Ripley County democrat., 1917-03-16
GERMAN PLOT TO START WORLD war
AT HAITI FAILED BY HA|RDaEADTH
Scheme to Precptae Conflict Through Attack United States
Frustrated by AstrianSerban ntrgues Re.
yeaIed Involving Mexico Throw Light on Wilson's Mti
tude on Other International Issues

fred Zimmerman, German foreign sec
retary, to give the impression that the
move to induce Mexico and Japan to
make war upon the United States was
undertaken only recently, and then
simply as q matter Of "seif-defense,"
Is not borne out by facts which the
New York Herald claims long to have
had In Its possession and which now
may be made public. Their publica-
uon also viii throw o new light upon
the much criticized persecution Of
Victoriano Huerta by President VIII
son, his efforts to depose the Mexican
dictator, his anxiety to bring about
the equalization Of the Panama tolls,
his Interest In the purchase Of the
Danish West Indies, his activity In
Haitian affairs, and his "watchful
waiting" policy under strongest provo
cations from Mexico.
That Germany was plotting early in
1914, six months before the European
war started, to bring on war between
the United States and Mexico and
make that war the beginning Of q
world conflict Is a statement coming
from war observer, an American,
who Is In a position to know much of
what has been back of the diplomatic
moves made In Washington during the
last three years.
The New York Heralds inform
ant makes this revelation now only
because the news of Germanys plot
to induce Mexico and Japan to enter
O war against the Uhited States has
removed whatever diplomatic reasons
there were for secrecy.
Panama Tolls Question.
This Observers information is that
President Wilson knew as early as
February 10, 1914, that Germany was
meddling In Mexico and that he had
this In mind when, In his address to
congress on March 5, 1914, urging
equal tolls for foreign and American
ships using the Panama canal, he
said:
Il ask this Of you In support of the
foreign policy of the administration.
/ shall not know how to deal with
other matters Of even greater dellcacy
and nearer consequence IL you do not
grant 1t to me in ungrudging meas
ure."
"rhis was the beginning" says the
Heralds informant, "of whisperings in
Washlngton's official circles that Ger
many was trying to entangle the Unit
ed States In war with Mexico. Before
the president made this speech he and
the members of his cabinet were about
the only Americans who had the
slightest knowledge Of Germany's ac-
tivities, and even they did not at that
time realize their true significance.
Later, as I will show further on.
President Wilson was made fully
cognizant of the extent Of Germany's
intrigues and knew that the German
government had determined to seize
the island Of Haiti to establish d ma
val base at Mole st. Nicholas, to begin |
war with the United States and de-
stroy the Monroe Doctrine, SO that
South and Central America might be
thrown open to German colonization.
That was very clearly begun on |
the evening of July %, 1914, and un-
doubtedly would have been started |
that night had not Austria de- .
clared war on Serbia on the same
date, thus calling of Germany's nc
tivities from this side Of the Atlantic
for the time being. l shall speak of
this q little later. but now win turn
back to Mexico and follow the Sc
luence Of events there.
British Envoy's Trip.
.'Huerta had been the facto presi-
dent of Mexico little more than a
vsar when on February 10, 1914. 1t was
In Washington that Sir
Lionel Garden, the retiring British
minister to Mexico, was coming to
and that Sir Cecil Spring
Rice. the British ambassador, had ar
ranged for him to have conference
With President Wilson. This was sig
liflcant because Mr.. Wilson had at
1fst objected to receiving Sir Lionel
because Of the latter's show OF friend
hip for Huerta. President Wilson's
ceiling toward Sir Lionel had become
'uch that Sir Edward Grey and the
premier, Mr.. Asquith. had tried to
'mooth out matters by making
Ipeeches to parliament In which the
oyalty Of Great Britain was pledged
3 the United States. They declared
he British government had nothing
'ut the most friendly feeling toward
be United States and that every step
gas being taken morally to support
he latters handling Of the Mexican
'robIem.
1T was Just q little more than
month later, April 10, that a United
'tates paymnsfer and several narlnes
mo went ashore at Tampic0 we're ar
ested BY one Of Huerta's generals.
his incident caused Admiral Mayo'sl
emand that Huerta's soldiers salute
he United states flag and the rushing
( the Atlantic fleet Of II warships to
iexican waters Think Of It'll war
hips 10 scare Ifuerta Into snlutins the
Tnited Statest That was the reason 4
isen out. The real reason was that !
Iuerta was Just as much an agent Of
'srnany then a he w4s N June. 1o15