The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-31
War Department Paying More
Attention Just Now to Car
rama Than to the
Kaiser.
MAY HELP GERMANY
America Must Take Active Part IL,
the War II Il Is Decided Next
Week to Join the
ALLIES. ~

(By Robert J. Bender, United Press
STAFF Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 31.-TAs the
hour OF the apparently inevitable ap.
proach of Americas entrance into
the world war draws near Mexico,
even more than Germany. Is engaging
war department attention.
Carranza has never disclaimed IN
terest in Germany's contemplated al
lance with Mexico. The state de-
partm ent's specific request for an
expression of Mexicos official atti-
tude toward Zimmerman's proposal
has been ignored-almost insolently
ignored. It is accepted as certainty
that in the event OF war, Germany
Will renew her attempts to ally
Mexico against the United States.
In the light Of this certainty the
very uncertainty created by Car
ranza's silence is in consequence to
be construed as menacing.
There is no feeling on the part Of
the government that American par
ticipation will be or can be of pass
i've sort. There is no expectation
that Germany will content herself
with defensive attitude to the
United States. In consequence 1t Is
assumed that if hostilities begin, It
will be impossible for this country
to maintain friendly relations with
Germany's allies. Austria, Turkey and
Bulgaria.
Officials point out the impossf-
bility Of allowing representatives of
Germany's allies to remain in Wash
ington with an unhampered view Of
the working of this governments
machinery.
1t is apparent today that the great
restraining influence which has been
the most important factor in keep
ing this country out Of the war so
far-the hope that America might be
justified IN ignoring her personal
wrongs in the hope Of ultimately
ministering to war stricken Europe
has completely vanished
State Of War Exists.
WASHINGTON, March 31.-Ger-
many may have recognized that
state OF war exists between that
country and the United States, ac-
cording to an Interpretation today By
the state department, of Foreign Min
User Zimmermann's speech.
This Interpretation was based upon
the published quotation Of thinner
mann's remarks, saying:
ut (the United States) cannot
deny us the right 70 seek allies when
it has itself practiced war on u.s."
The state department would not in.
terpret the remark as being full
official recognition of state Of war
but it said the remark might be-" so
interpreted.
This angle Of the international
situation probably will be injected in
to President Wilson's speech to con-
gress. He can argue that Germany
already holds that a state of war
exists-ba sing it on the Zimmerman
statement-and that hence there
need be little argument as to the
facts of the situation. The state de-
tpartment pointed out in answer to
Zimmerman that Count Won Bern
storff must have known in the middle
Of January that a break in relations
between the two countries was inevi-
table in view OF Germany's subma-
rine campaign, that he undoubtedly Y
endeavored to avoid a break, but
though Germany had a three day
period between her submarine war
declaration and the actual break, she
made no move to avoid the apparent
coming rupture.
Some interpreted the state depart
ment's remarks as being conclusive
proof that President Wilson will seize
upon the Zimmerman comment for use
| in his Coming "war message"