At the start of World War I, he was giving concerts in Austria with José Iturbi when he was accused of espionage and jailed for a short time, until the intercession of the Spanish king Alfonso XIII secured his release.
No inicio da primeira guerra mundial, Quiroga encontrábase dando concertos en Austria con José Iturbi cando foi acusado de espionaxe e detido durante un breve período, ata que a mediación do rei español Afonso XIII asegurou a súa liberación.