The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-03-01

Omitted Press)
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The at
tempt of Germany to embroil Mexico
and Japan with the United States has
been frustrated. The state depart
ment today intimated that the Letter
of Foreign Secretary Zimmerman new
er reached Mexico and consequently
never reached Japan, as its terms
showed that it was to go to Japan by
way of Mexico. Secretary Lansing
said today, "the department does not
believe that Japan had any knowledge
of the patter or that she would con-
slider such a proposition" He express
ed the belief that Mexico would also
ignore the proposition. The Japanese
embassy today issued a formal state
ment declaring that Under no cir
cumstances would Japan entertain
such invitation as Germany attempt
ed "and in behalf of his government
pledged the continued friendship of
his country for the United States
An accumulation of annoying activ-
tiles on the part of Swiss Minister Rit-
ter has tended to place him near the
undesirable" class. Some believe
that Ritter has taken np the German
propaganda work in a manner that
n.y. force a showdown with the state
department. The administration in in
censed that the peace conference sug-
gestion was given to the press before
the department had any knowledge OF
it. Similarly Ritter gave out infor-
nation to the public yesterday that
| q nv farnnncah n dntaip fbp
lean consuls. The fact that the Zim-
norman letter went through the Ger
man embassy here at the time that
Bernstorff was supposed to be repre-
senting his government in friendly
manner, and that it gives the lie tC
the statements of the German chancel
lOr relative to the expressed friendly
intentions of Germany toward thu
United States has tended to cast sus
picion on the acts of Ritter, who rep
resents Germany since the severanc
of diplomatic relations. 1t is beinl
remarked here that at the very tim
. that the assurances were being givel
by the German government of friend
ly intentions, the discriminating lette
was in the hands Of President Wilson
That Germany wants to align MeXi
co and Japan actively against tn
United States in the event of war, wa
evident from the revelation by the ad
ministration of the plot which wa
last evening to sway a dallying cor
gress and stir a nation to the re
| perils of the German problems. Fa'
ing the possibility of further cor
e gressional delay the pdministratio
v played its trump last evening b
publishing the correspondence b'
tween Germany the Mexican envo
e Won Eckhardt, showing that German
l. sought to align Japan and Mexio
e against the United States. The docl
1t ments show that Germany meant tn
l. menace as a club over the Unite
II States to keep her neutral. Foreie
1T Minister zimmerman letter to Eel
.. hardt promised general financi
,e support it is understood that Mex
re co was to reconquer New Mexic
lie Texas and Arizona. These doc
at ments explain the insistance of Il
le administration upon being grant'
lie more power to deal with the intern
We tional situation. 1t is now conced
Or that the situation with reference
ne a combined Mexican and Japane
to menace has loomed larger than of
is cials have been willing to admit pu
ar licly Stories of emissaries betwe
Toxic and Mexico City are recall'
with other stories about large nul
bers of Japanese in Lower Californ
and still other stories of German spi
along the Mexican border.
u Ambassador Sato today denied
JL knowledge of alleged Japanese imp
cation in the reported German-Me
ar can plot, admitting, however, that
he report that Germany had made su
attempt through Mexico was probal
true.
In formal statement Senator Sws
j. son told the senate, president
INT son authorizes me to say that the
ch port of the contents of the Zimm
as man letter to the German embas
as at Mexico City proposing a Japane
ne, Mexican alliance is substantially c
ar rect"
lb Notwithstanding this assurance,
Id senate foreign relations committee
in day agreed to report the Lodge re
he luton asking President Wilson to
on- form the senate whether the n
his norman letter was authentic and i
vn is in possession of the governmt
ads and, should the answers prove affil
alive, to send it to the senate "