The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-08-26
WASHINGTON NEWS EXCHANGE
LETTER.


country, revealing alleged attempts Of
German officials both in Berlin and in
this country to control the press and
public sentiment, and to obtain writer's
and establish news agencies to spread
German doctrine SO far has brought no
denial from Ambassador VonBernstorff.
The publication did, however, bring out
the declaration here that the govern
ment will probably take cognizance Of
the revelations It is said the depart
ment Of justice has already begun an
investigation of one phase of the activi-
ties of German agents in this country.
How far the investigation will 60 or
whether this government will take up
the matter officially with Germany is
uncertain. Because Of the critical sit
uation that resulted from the CORES
|pondence initiated by the German sub
marine warfare and the sinking Of the
Lusitania, the administration is not
anxious to have irrelevant matter in
jected into its relations with Germany
at this time. But in the mass of
charges against German representatives
that have appeared recently one thing
seems to stand out clearly, that is
ground for complaint against the extra
diplomatic activities of the kaiser e
representatives in this country.
With keen interest administration Of
ficials are awaiting the replies to the
Pan-American appeal for the establish
ment of peace in Mexico, transmitted to
the Mexican leaders last Saturday. The
question uppermost in the minds Of the
officials is the effect which the appeal
is to have on the government establish
ed by Gen Carranza. Agents of the
Carranza government in Washington
are emphatic in their statement that
effort will be to strengthen the hands
Of Carranza, and that eventually the
United States and other American re-
publics would have to recognize the
constitutional government established
by him. Others believe that the note
will cause Carranza IS supporters to fall
away from him. The seriousness of the
situation is evidenced by the fact that
orders by wireless have been sent to
the New Hampshire and Louisiana to
proceed at once to Vera Cruz.
The reply of the United States to
Austria Hungary rejects the views set
forth by that government in its recent
note contending that expectation of
war munitions from America to Aus
tria's enemies was conducted on such a
scale as to be "note in consonance with
the definition Of neutrality. Though
friendly in language and tone, the reply
flatly denies the Austrian contentious,
and recalls the fact that that country
and Germany furnished munitions to
Great Britain during the Boer war.
An exhaustive investigation of ocean
transportation facilities and rates be-
tween the United States and foreign
countries is to be made by the Inter
state Commerce Commission at the re-
quest of President Wilson, the treasury
department has announced. The in
quiry is expected to develop definite
material for continuing the legislative
contest for enactment of the admins
tration ship purchase bill, filibustered
to death in the senate last winter, or
some similar legislation, when congress
meets.
The groundbreaking exercises at the
site Of the new building for the interior
department, in the group Of govern
ment buildings here, differed from the
usual form Of such exercises, in that
customary first spadeful of ground"
feature was eliminated. "Bucketful"
was substituted for spadeful, for the
big steam shovel Bucyrus is to do the
digging Assistant Secretary Newton
of the treasury was on hand to trip the
first shoveful Of earth.