g upon them that they were concerned, say, in the
so-called Huerta-Mexican plot--if one really existed--or with the
conspiracies to destroy munition plants and munition ships, or, in
Captain Boy-Ed's case, in the Hamburg-American line's chartered ships
for provisioning of German cruisers, sailing with false manifests and
clearance papers.

An informal note from Secretary Lansing to Count von Bernstorff so far
acceded to the request for a bill of particulars, though not
customary, that the German embassy professed to be satisfied.
Secretary Lansing stated that Captains Boy-Ed and Von Papen had
rendered themselves unacceptable by "their activities in connection
with naval and military affairs." This was intended to mean that such
activities here indicated had brought the two officials in contact
with private individuals in the United States who had been involved in
violation of the law. The incidents and circumstances of this contact
were of such a cumulative character that the two attaches could no
longer be deemed as acceptable to the American Government. Here was an
undoubted implication of complicity by association with wrongdoers,
but not in deed. The unofficial statement of the cause of complaint
satisfied the embassy in that it seemed to relieve the two officers
from the imputation of themselves having violated American laws. The
record stood, however, that the United States had officially refused
to give any reasons for demanding their recall. Germany officially
recalled them on December 10, 1915, and before the year was out they
quitted American soil under safe conducts granted by the British
Government.

Captain von Papen, however, was not permitted to escape the clutches
of the British on the ocean passage. While respecting his person, they
seized his papers. These, duly published, made his complicity in the
German plots more pronounced than ever. His check counterfoils showed
a payment of $500 to "Mr. de Caserta, Ottawa." De Caserta was
described in British records as "a dangerous German spy, who takes
great risks, has lots of ability, and wants lots of money." He was
supposed to have been involved in conspiracies in Canada to destroy
bridges, armories, and munition factories. He had offered his services
to the British Government, but they were rejected. Later he was
reported to have been shot or hanged in London as a spy.

Another check payment by Captain von Papen was to Werner Horn for
$700. Horn, as be