AMBASSADOR DUMBA, GERMANY’S CO-CONSPIRATOR
“If I wanted to flatter the American people, I would make a statement
before my departure, but I say nothing.”
This was the sentiment of Dr. Constantin Theodor Dumba, veteran diplomat
and Austro-Hungarian Ambassador at Washington, just after he had
received his passports from Secretary of State Lansing. He was dismissed
from this country in September, 1915, because of his pro-Teutonic
activities, which were adjudged by the State Department to amount to
interference with the internal affairs of the nation.
The diplomat, regarded at the time as the ablest in Washington, did not
relish the notoriety of being the ninth diplomat to be expelled from
America; and, when questioned by reporters on the eve of his departure,
he revealed the acrid feeling regarding Americans which his wonted
suavity and self-control hitherto had enabled him to conceal. The next
day, however, he did unbend to the extent of saying something about
“wonderful United States”—and then sailed away.
Dumba, master of intrigue and remorseless in the attempted execution of
any scheme that he regarded as beneficial to the welfare of his country,
had been the supervising authority of the Austro-Hungarian espionage
system in America, which was linked almost chain for chain with the
German machinery. The joint activity of the German and the Austrian
organizations was aimed at the same end as those described in connection
with the duties of the German agents and their executives. He had as his
active assistants, Baron Erich Zwiedinek von Sudenhorst, counsellor to
the Austrian Embassy, and after the dismissal of Dumba, Chargé
d’Affaires; Dr. Alexander Nuber von Pereked, Consul-General in New York,
and several other Austrian consuls throughout the country. He is said to
have been the originating genius of many of the ideas which the German
agents tried to put into effect.
The charges against him are based on a series of exposures concerning
the secret propaganda in which Dr. Dumba participated and concerning
which evidence was gathered by the Secret Service and the Department of
Justice. They rest on secret diplomatic messages which Dr. Dumba wrote
and entrusted to Captain James F. J. Archibald, an American, travelling
in August, 1915, on the steamship _Rotterdam_ for Holland, whence he
expected to confer with the Foreign Offices of both Germany and
Austro-Hungary. Those documents were captured by the British and turned
over to the American authorities. They expose much the same sort of
illicit activity as set forth in German documents.
MORE PASSPORT FRAUDS
Attorney-General Gregory caused a thorough investigation of these
documents and also of von Nuber’s office in New York. Many consular
employees were taken before the Grand Jury and practically every member
of the Consulate, excepting von Nuber and his immediate associates, was
rounded up one night in the office of Superintendent Offley in New York.
They were questioned, and they gave much information.
* * * * *
Baron Zwiedinek was a busy person at the summer Embassy at
Manchester-by-the-Sea after the outbreak of the war. Hundreds of
Austro-Hungarian reservists were bobbing up at various consulates and
registering, eager for directions and for means of getting back to their
country. Evidently, these matters came under his jurisdiction, for he
wrote the following letter to von Nuber:
* * * * *
“Manchester, A. M., 24 August, 1914.
“To the Imperial and Royal Consulate-General in New York:
“On the 21st inst. the Imperial and Royal Embassy received the following
telegram from the Imperial and Royal Consulate in San Francisco:
“‘Nine employees arrived here on the steamer _Yokohama_ seek
transportation New York at expense of State. Beg for telegraphic
instruction whether Consulate should pay travelling expenses. Stay here
would cause embarrassment.’
“The Embassy has instructed the Consular office mentioned to send these
employees to New York. Thereupon the following telegram of the 22nd
arrived:
“‘Attaché Hanenschild, Interpreter Nanternatz, Embassy, Tokio, as well
as six employees, journeyed onward.’
“Since the Imperial and Royal Embassy is of the opinion that it is a
patriotic duty of the reservists to do their utmost to reach the
monarchy, will the Imperial and Royal Consulate please make all efforts
in this connection to discover the proper transportation facilities for
these employees who are shortly to arrive. Perhaps it would be possible
also to produce suitable passports of neutral countries at comparatively
slight expense.
“Concerning that which is done in this connection please report in due
time.
“For the Imperial and Royal Embassy,
“ZWIEDINEK.”
* * * * *
When that letter was shown to Baron Zwiedinek by Secretary of State
Lansing, he admitted the authenticity of the signature, but denied he
remembered anything of its contents. He explained that it was probably
dictated by a clerk, and that in his haste he signed it without reading
it. He also disclaimed any responsibility for it on the ground that Dr.
Dumba was at the date of the letter the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador.
MUNITION PLOTS
Part of the schemes considered and recommended by Ambassador Dumba to
prevent the exportation of war munitions from the United States is set
forth in the secret communications which he gave to Captain Archibald to
carry to Baron Burian, Austrian Foreign Minister. The first document
discusses the diplomatic efforts that have been made toward that end,
deprecates the arguments put forth by the State Department in declining
to take any action to forbid the export of war munitions.
* * * * *
“The true ground for the discouraging attitude of the President,” wrote
Dumba, “lies, as his confidant, Colonel House, already informed me in
January, and has now repeated, in the fact that authoritative circles
are convinced that the United States in any serious crisis would have to
rely on foreign neutral countries for all their war material. At no
price, and in no case, will President Wilson allow this source to dry
up.
“For this reason I am of the opinion that to return to the question
whether by a reply from your Excellency or by a semi-official
conversation between myself and the Secretary of State would not only be
useless, but even, having regard for the somewhat self-willed
temperament of the President, would be harmful.”
* * * * *
Dr. Dumba’s plans for causing strikes in munition factories in the
United States are related by himself in the following official document
which he sent to Baron Burian:
* * * * *
“New York, August 20.
“Your Excellency: Yesterday evening Consul General von Nuber received
the enclosed _aide mémoire_ from the chief editor of the local
influential paper _Szabadsag_, after a previous conversation with me in
pursuance of his verbal proposals to arrange for strikes at Bethlehem in
Schwab’s steel and munitions factory and also in the Middle West.
“Archibald, who is well known to your Excellency, leaves to-day at
twelve o’clock on board the _Rotterdam_ for Berlin and Vienna. I take
this rare and safe opportunity of warmly recommending these proposals to
your Excellency’s favourable consideration. It is my impression that we
can disorganize and hold up for months, if not entirely prevent, the
manufacture of munitions in Bethlehem and the Middle West, which, in the
opinion of the German military attaché, is of great importance and amply
outweighs the comparatively small expenditure of money involved.
“But even if strikes do not come off, it is probable that we should
extort under pressure more favourable conditions of labour for our
poorly down-trodden fellow-countrymen in Bethlehem. These white slaves
are now working twelve hours a day, seven days a week. All weak persons
succumb and become consumptive. So far as German workmen are found among
the skilled hands means of leaving will be provided immediately for
them. Besides this, a private German registry office has been
established which provides employment for persons who voluntarily have
given up their places. It already is working well. We shall also join in
and the widest support is assured us.
“I beg your Excellency to be so good as to inform me with reference to
this letter by wireless. Reply whether you agree. I remain, with great
haste and respect,
“DUMBA.”
* * * * *
PLANS FOR STRIKERS
The enclosure, or “_aide mémoire_,” written in Hungarian, outlines the
scheme which the diplomat recommended.
* * * * *
“I must divide the matter into two parts, Bethlehem and the Middle West
business” (says this paper), “but the point of the departure is common
in both, viz., press agitation, which is of the greatest importance as
regards our Hungarian-American workmen. It means a press through which
we can reach both in Bethlehem and in the West. In my opinion we must
start a very strong agitation on this question in _Freedom_ (Szabadsag),
the leading organ, in respect to the Bethlehem works and the conditions
there. This can be done in two ways and both must be utilized.
“In the first place, the regular daily section must be devoted to the
conditions obtaining there, and a campaign must be regularly conducted
against these indescribably degrading conditions. _Freedom_ already has
done something similar in the recent past, when the strike movement
began at Bridgeport. It must necessarily take the form of strong,
deliberate, decided and courageous action.
“Secondly, the writer of these lines would begin a labour novel in that
newspaper much on the lines of Sinclair’s celebrated story. This might
be published in other local Hungarian, Slovak and German newspapers. The
_Nepszava_ (‘Word of the People’) will undoubtedly be compelled
willingly or unwillingly to follow the movement initiated by _Freedom_,
for it is pleasing the entire Hungarian element in America, and is an
absolutely patriotic act to which that open journal, the _Nepszava_,
could not adopt a hostile attitude. Of course, it would be another
question to what extent and with what energy and devotion that newspaper
would adhere to this course of action without regard to other
influences, just as it is questionable to what extent other local
patriotic papers would go. There is a great reason why, in spite of
their patriotism, American-Hungarian papers hitherto have shrunk from
initiating such action.
“In these circumstances the first necessity is money.
“Bethlehem must be sent as many reliable Hungarian and German workmen as
we can lay our hands on, who will join the factories and begin their
work in secret among their fellow workmen. For this purpose I have my
men, roll-turners and steel workers. We must send an organizer who in
the interests of the union will begin the business in his own way. We
must also send so-called ‘soap-box’ orators who will know how to start a
useful agitation. We shall want money for popular meetings, possibly for
organizing picnics. In general, the same applies to the Middle West. I
am thinking of Pittsburg and Cleveland in the first instance, as to
which I could give details only if I were to return and spend at least a
few days there. I already have shown that much can be done with the
newspapers. We must stir up the men’s feelings in Bethlehem. A sensation
was caused by the articles which appeared at the time of the strike at
Bridgeport. They brought Bethlehem into the affair.
“It is evident that the start of a movement from which serious results
are to be expected requires a sufficiency of money at the very start.
The extent of subsequent expenditure for the most part depends on the
work effected. For example, the newspapers must not receive the whole
sum intended for them all at once, but only half. To union agitators
only a certain amount should be given at first, and a larger sum in case
of success or of a serious strike on the formation of the union. It is
my opinion that for the special object of starting the Bethlehem
business and the Bethlehem and Western newspapers campaign $15,000 to
$20,000 must be at our disposal, but it is not possible to reckon how
much ultimately will be required.
“When a beginning has been made, it will be possible to see how things
develop and where and how much it will be worth while to spend. The
above-mentioned preliminary sum would suffice partially to satisfy the
demands of the necessary newspapers and to a considerable extent those
of the Bethlehem campaign. If circumstances are lucky and leadership is
good, we can arrive at positive results in the West comparatively
cheaply, whereas Bethlehem is one of the most difficult jobs.
“I will telephone at 8 a.m., and request you then to let me know where
and when I can learn your opinion of my proposal, which requires a
considerable amount of verbal exposition. Finally, I make bold to point
out the fact that hitherto I have said nothing on the subject to any one
connected with the newspapers, and am in the fortunate position that in
the case of giving effect to the plan I can make use of names in case of
necessity, for I have already in other matters made payments through
other individuals. In any event, in the case of the newspapers the
greatest circumspection is necessary. No one but the proprietor must
know that money is coming to the undertaking from any source.”
* * * * *
EXIT DUMBA
Following the receipt of those documents by the State Department, Dr.
Dumba and Secretary Lansing were in conference. The Ambassador admitted
he had written the letter, and had consigned it to the care of Captain
Archibald. He defended his course on the ground that he was under orders
from his home government, and that he wished to prevent Austro-Hungarian
workmen from committing high treason by helping turn out munitions for
the Allies. President Wilson, however, insisted on the Ambassador’s
recall, and Secretary Lansing, in his note to Austro-Hungary, made these
charges against Dr. Dumba:
* * * * *
“By reason of the admitted purpose and intent of Mr. Dumba to conspire
to cripple legitimate industries of the United States and to interrupt
their legitimate trade, and by reason of the flagrant violation of
diplomatic propriety in employing an American citizen, protected by an
American passport, as a secret bearer of official despatches through the
lines of the enemy of Austria-Hungary, the President directs us to
inform your Excellency that Mr. Dumba is no longer acceptable to the
Government of the United States as the Ambassador of his Imperial
Majesty at Washington.”
* * * * *
After the departure of Dr. Dumba, Baron Zwiedinek and von Nuber began a
series of advertisements in racial newspapers, calling the subjects of
Austria-Hungary out of the munition factories. If any workman wrote him
regarding the matter, he sent a reply, in which he said: “It is demanded
that patriotism, no less than the fear of punishment, should cause every
one to quit his work immediately.”