Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-02
AUTHOR OF MEXICAN PLOT
ADDRESSES REICHSTAG
ON U. S. CRISIS
STANDS BY SUBSEAS
ZiMM EMANN. iNTiMATES HE WAS
READY TO CONFER AFTER
FIRST SECURING CONSENT TO
ALL RULES PREVIOUSLY LAID
DOWN.

DOWN.
Berlin via Sayville, March Ger
many will not back down. Mainten.
ance of her new submarine policy
must be condition of any understand.
ing reached with the United States to
prevent widening of the present
breach.
Foreign Secretary Zimmerman
made this assertion in the Reichstag
in the course of his discussion OF the
efforts of the Swiss minister at Wash.
ington to bring the two nations into
agreement.
obviously our wish to come to an
understanding only can be accom-
plshed so far that we do not conflict
with our declaration of barred zones,
which we are firmly decided to main
tain against our enemies under all
circumstances, the foreign secretary
declared.
Secretary Zimmerman first detail.
ed to the Reichstag the negotiations
attempted by the Swiss minister at
Washington.
in the affair of our negotiations
with the United States, the underly-
ing facts are these" he said "On'
February 2S, we received by the Good
offices Of the Swiss Federal Council
o telegram from the Swiss Minister
at Washington, who after the break.
ing of OF relations with the United
States represents our interests there.
The telegram had the following con
tents. IF the German government
would now show inclination to nego-
tiate with the United States about
the blockade then he ('rhe Swiss min
ister) would be gladly willing to take
further care of this affair"
"All the speakers yesterday declar-
ed that the breaking off OF relations
with the United States was regret
table. No doubt it would be still more
regrettable if there would be war with
the United States. Between both
countries there exists the old friend
ly relations. There Is no political
antagOnism between both countries
and in the economic domain they more
or less depend on each other. One
could even say that they ought to be
economic allies
Therefore, it is easy to understand
that the government took care to
avoid everything which might inten-
sify the conflict and cause war with
America. From the standpoint of
these considerations we examined the
suggestion
From the very outset we were alb
soutely certain that our part in the
submarine war ought In no way be
limited by concessions
We only limited at our readiness to
enter into more detailed negotiations
with America about the admission of
passenger ships. The Swiss minister
at Washington transmitted our com.
municatons and thereupon received
from Mr., Lansing a note in very DO.
lite terms. Lansing says he is author.
lied by President Wilson to say that
the government Of the United States
VIII negotiate with Germany very
gladly If Germany cancels her decision
Tf I1piIarV u Thic h.lirn al al,
impossible, the negotiations had to be
considered as failure before they
really had begun,
Foreign Secretary Zimmerman
statement to the Reichstag is the first
official admission that Germany did
suggest to the United States the ad-
mission of passenger ships 70 the
barred zone as a basis for further ne
gOtiations. Earlier dispatches from
Berlin asserted that the Swiss minis.
ter was acting on his own responsibii.
ty and not under Instructions from
Berlin, when he made this proposal
to Secretary Lansing
Congress Blocks President
Washington, Mar 2. President
Wilson will deal with Germany in his
own way This was made certain t.
day when assurances OF support
reached the White House from Sen.
ate and House leaders of both parties.
The revelation of the enormous ex.
tent OF The German plotting against
the United States has proven trump
card for the administration 1t has
s0lidifed the country behind the
President Before the end Of next
week, unless something entirely un'
forseen shall develop, the mail car.
rying liners OF the American line will
be back on their accustomed routes
On the Atlantic.
The President, his advisers gay.