A MATTER OF GREAT GRAVITY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2563, 10 September 1915, Page 5

A MATTER OF GREAT GRAVITY

AUSTRIANS IN AMERICAN WAR FACTORIES THEIR AMBASSADOR'S BEHAVIOUR PRESIDENT MAY DEMAND HIS RECALL

Br MeEroph-Preas Association-Copyright . Washington, September 8. President Wilson conferred with Mr.; Lansing relative to the-Austro-Hungar-' ian Ambassador's admission that lie wasacting oil his Government's behalf in' seeking to induce Austrians to -efuso to work in American munition factories. M. Dumba admitted that the American correspondent (Mr. Archibald) bore an Amorican passport while acting virtually as a spy for the Austrian Government. President Wilson considers that the matter is of great gravity,: and may demand M. Dumba's recall. M. Dumba, the Austrian Ambassador, has caused amazemont in official circles by declaring that he acted according to official instructions. The statement lias perplexed the Administration.-The-.ques-tion is now one between tbe two Cabinets. '.•••" " : "- An Associated Press correspondent states that the use .of a passport to shield Mr. J. F. J. Archibald, the-war correspondent, who Was carrying, besides M. Dumba's letter, messages from Count Bernstorffj tho German Ambassador, is regarded by President Wilson and Mr. Lansing (United States Secretary of State) as being as serious as tlio revelations regardiug M. Dumba's letter. [Tho Austrian Ambassador (M. Dumba) called on Mr. Lansing and explained that tho dispatches which were captured, bj; the British from bu Apiericai^

war correspondent while ett route from Vieuiia to New York did' not affect American neutrality. The suggestion in the dispatches that Austro-Hungarians should refuse to engage in the production of war munitions-in America, unless under the risk of imprisonment if they returned to Austria, is explained by the Ambassador as merely a Technical measure usually issued to Austrian subjects.] '