The Washington herald., 1917-09-22

storf standing forth for the FIRST
time as the actual directing head
or a bribery propaganda. but ex-
poses the efforts of Germany to use
this country as a buffer while Teu-
ton ruthlessness was employed In
its most effective measures. While
Count Won Bernstorff had been ex-
posed early in the year as passing
note from Foreign Minister Zim-
mermann to Count Won 'Eckhardt in
Mexico City. to drag Japan and
Mexico into a war with this coun-
try, the German representative had
not been shown to have any direc-
tion of the payment of money to
finance intrigues, or as being the
real head. Today he is set up as
a shining example of German du-
plicity-indicating his willingness
to commit bribery while at the same
time protesting the most friendly
relations with this country.
Mystery Plays Role
Just what organization Count
Won Bernstorff instended to use to
pass his s50.O00 to Congress, is a
matter of conjecture. Nor is there
any explanation of what the am
bassador meant by ION former oc-
casions." But officials of the State
Department and men in diplomatic
circles plainly see the working of
the German master mind behind the
ambassadors message of duplicity.
When the note was sent, Great
Britain was crying for food; she
was crying for ships: she was cry
ing for ammunition. France was
in the same position and still is.
Italy was sending to this country a
delegation to impress the impera-
tive necessity OF ships, coal and
supplies for her army just about
to enter upon its greatest offensive,
Russia was turbulent. German in
fluence thought it was about to reap
its coveted prize OF a disrupted en-
emy on the East. The Russian
armies were reported on the point
of revolt and retreat. The people
themselves were in a turmoil. Ger
many had pushed into the enemy
country. Entrenched and fortified.
she felt that Russias effectiveness
as an ally was ended. Japan was
too far away to be of material, mo-
mentary aid.
Germany Saw Victory.
With this situation before her, Ger
many felt that she could win through
her submarine campaign. which was to
be pushed to extremities of inhuman-
ity never before heard OF in warfare.
Her propagandists in this country had
been hard at work, when on January
o. President Wilson sent his address
to Congress. He appealed to the war
ring nations to enter into peace ne
gOtiatiOnS. lie sought peace without
victory"
Then Bernstorff sent his message. 1t
was said yesterday that 1t did not so
directly from the Germany Embassy
here, but that IT passed through some
neutral nation. The possibility OF
Sweden having been used in this in
stance as she had been in others was
suggested: but no reply was forth
coming from the State Department
officials Secretary Lansing would not
say when the United States had come
into possession Of the message; but
the fact that this State Department
has had it for some time. and that IL
followed the others in which Sweden
was IMPLICATED, led TO a belief that
there was a connection between this
message and some Swedish channel
Count Won Bernstorff had been sus-
nected before of influencing the Ger
man propa ganGa here. In the at
tcmpts to blow up munitions plants
throughout the country; in the plot TO
destroy the Welland Canal and other
schemes to hamper the allies WORK
in this country, there was always
the suspicion that the men higher up
who were sought included the am
bassador. But nothing was broushI
out until the two men were on trlal
and sentenced to prison. The Varl-
ous instances of destruction of sugar
carcoes shipped to the allies were also
traced back to German influence In
high circles.