A SECRET AGENT’S TRAINING
Von Rintelen’s work was cut out for him in his early youth. His qualifications were considered and he was assigned to studies in preparation for the tasks he gave promise of performing most efficiently. At the gymnasium and the university, he divided his time between economics and finance. In addition, he spent considerable time in the navy, finally became a Captain-Lieutenant, and as such qualified for the General Navy Staff. He, too, was one of von Tirpitz’s young men chosen for definite lines of naval secret service and financial campaigns that would be of value to the further development of the navy.
Finance may have been a mere cloak for the real nature of von Rintelen’s naval assignments abroad, or his secret service training may have been a necessary part of his training for a high place in the Teutonic financial world. Graduating from the university and finishing the prescribed part of his tutelage under von Tirpitz, he went to London where he obtained employment in a banking house. While there, he was learning not only finance, but he was a part of that branch of Germany’s spy system that radiated through banking institutions to the various concerns allied therewith. Under the guidance of wise heads in Berlin, he grasped far more facts about banking conditions than ever were suspected by his English associates.
Next he came to America. He entered the banking house of Ladenburg, Thalmann & Co., spending a short time there and then moving to other banking institutions, some of which were branches of English and Canadian banks. He obtained letters of introduction from big bankers to bankers scattered throughout the United States. He grew in knowledge, learned American banking methods, the connections of banks with big industries, and sought to make affiliations of benefit to German institutions. He served, meantime, as Germany’s naval representative at the exercises in commemoration of John Paul Jones. His entrance into New York’s society was paved for him through the German Embassy’s friends. He was a guest at social functions where only the most favoured were invited. He was accepted as a member of the New York Yacht Club. He was entertained at Newport. He made friends among the biggest men in New York; for he was attractive, a remarkable cosmopolite, extremely learned, versed in international questions, speaking English, French and Spanish fluently, and, above all, he was an inimitable raconteur. He showed himself at all times an ardent pro-German, arguing for a union of Germany and the United States in the event of war.
Through his wide acquaintanceship and innumerable avenues open to him, he gained information about America such as only the most favoured business men in America possess. He left this country finally saying he would go to Mexico to investigate conditions there, hoping that eventually he might be able to open Mexican and South American branches of a German bank. But before going, he had acquired insight not only into American banking connections with Canada, but also with Mexico. He knew the big financial groups interested in the development of the natural resources of those countries and he knew thoroughly America’s actual and industrial preparedness for war.