Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1915 — ESPIONAGE AND UNNEUTRALITY [ARTICLE]

ESPIONAGE AND UNNEUTRALITY

—e United States government has -•j fully outlined its position with : regard to belligerent nations that’ eych citizen should hav.e nd diffic dty in conducting himself properly. ] The numerous mysterious uires; tlie 1 faring of.bombs on board ships,! dbor agitations and certain politi al developments which iron, rime to; ■/ ■ . I Un - appear m various gthi.cs, sag-g‘--t. at least, that the spirit oe neutrality may not amue all those who are at present in this count ry . I The mos: recent allegations are of; espionage and other acts absolutely* subversive o: impartial law. As in 1 The case of Dr. Dutnba. these concern the Austrian embassy, ana there! is declared to be even a closer eon- ; nee-yin with the diploma, ic rep re-j sentatives of the German empire . { i se assertions, however, are denied i-.y both Austrian and German embassies, and statements have been; prepared explaining the position of the Austrian government in the as? of Dr. Joseph Goricar, former Austrian consul, whose name now -figures, so prbmtnently in the reports. i r-ere is no need at this time to itemize the various peculiar hap- 1 penings. Not a few arrests have' been made by agents 01 the Ameri-' can government. In at least one instance——the Dumba case—charges were so far substantiated as to bring about the change in the Austrian eutbassy staff. • Whether the present accusations are as trustworthy is a matter which rests with the American government to determine. The 1 country is assured that the Washington authorities are looking into the matter thoroughly. Certainly there is grave need for such examination. The repeated assertions concerning AustrovGerman activity serve to remind the American public that this country can permit no propaganda on behalf of any belligerent as long as the neutral status is to be maintained. Thus it should not be forgotten that our neutrality pledges embrace pro-British and pro-French activities as well Vs Austro-Hungar-ian or Bulgarian. \ Within the last Jew days evidence i-utiiplied to indicate that sym

pathizers with certain European governments are at work. Whether this activity has found expression in outlawed recruiting, as appears to have been the case in San Francisco; incendiarism, or espionage, it is the duty of the government to insist on strict neutrality. This is necessary, not only as a form of policy, but as a means for national protection. Espionage and chicanery have long been practiced among European stares. In so far as initiative in such matters is concerned, we are distinct from Europe. But the present condition offers great temptations to the European powers to pursue their accustomed habits in this country. Vigorous suppression of unneutral or menacing acts or schemes is, therefore, a national duty, it is, in a way, the first immediate form of preparedness.—lndianapolis News.