The Washington herald., 1917-09-27
JOINED U.BOA7
WAR and BRIDE
Germany, Planning Whole
sale Raids on Commerce,
Also Sought to Pal
late Ofenses.

Bernstorff's $4,000 to influence Con-
Gress in favor of neutrality was asked
for by the German minister on jan
uary - last in the face OF his OFF,
cial knowledge that his country was
about to break the Sussex pledge to
the United States and resume ruth
less submarine warfare on Febru-
AIRY l.
He knew this because he had read
on or before January -, the now
famous note which Foreign Minister
Zimmerman sent to Minister Won Eek
hardt in Mexico City, urging war be-
tween the United States and Mexico.
Both purposes, apparently, as re-
veaIed at the State Department yes
terday for the first time officially,
were part of the same well-laid and
ld-blooded plan of Germany to sink
ships without warning and at the
same time. through the methods OF
the gangster and assassin. escape the
consequences of the righteous anger
of the United States.
The scope of these plans. together
with the desperate means adopted for
their execution, shed a clear light on
the fear in the German heart over
the entry OF America into the war.
Outwardly clustering and hooking at
the efforts of the United States, the
German government was yet driven
by this fear to adopt the methods OF
the corruptlonist and the Apache, I'M
der the diplomatic protection of this
still neutral country.
Furthermore, the intimacy with
which Secretary Lansing talked OF
these incidents and the readiness with
which he voiced details and con-
nected them up. indicate that the State
Department has at its fingers ends
every detail of the operations OF the
Bernstorff machine in this country be-
fore the war. 1t confirms the state,
ments that have been made to the
effect that the names OF all connect.
ed with the work of German propa-
ganda in this country can, IL neces-
; sary, be mentioned and that indict-
ments may be expected shortly.
Lansing's Statement.
Mr.. Lansing refused to say whether
the Zimmerman note had been act.
ually transmitted through Won Bern.
| storff's hands to Mexico. He said
| without hesitation, however. thai
Bernstorff had seen this document
Later Mr.. Lansing issued the follow.
ing formal statement:
I'm view Of inquiries which have
| been made as to whether Count Bern
storff knew of the purpose of hi:
| government to renew relentless sub
marine warfare when he sent his
message of January q, 1917, askinl
I authorization to spend $4,000, l car
state that the Department of State:
possesses conclusive evidence that OF
or before January 10, Count Bern
storff had received and read the Zlm
| norman telegram to Minister vor
Echhardt in Mexico. which contained
! the following.
! 1--WE intend to begin on the first o.
/ February unrestricted submarine war
| fare. We shall endeavor. in spite o
this. to keep the United States o
America neutral
Count Bernstorff was, therefore
fully advised as to the intentions o
the imperial government at the tim
when he asked for authority OF Der
lin to employ funds for an organiza
ton to influence Congressional actor
in favor of the continued neutralit!
of this country"
Congress Probe Planned.
The first step toward a Congress
sional investigation of the Bernstori
1000 slush fund as 1t affected Con
gress will be taken this morning. tn
Rules Committee of the House Of Rep
reeentatives will question two news
paper men who quoted Represent
ntives Howard, of Georgia, and Hefiir
of Alabama, as saying they suspecte
certain Congressmen OF having bee
Influenced by the Bernstorff propa
sanda.
Republican members of the Hous
! yesterday were voeiferous in their DC
nunciations of any administration Ell
forts to let the Bernstorff story an
the Hefiin-HowaFd statements stan
without investigation.
1T would be ridiculous" declare
Representative Cooper, Of Wisconsin
Ito permit or think of pefmittin
these charges to stand as they arr
This reflection on the integrity
Congress must be cleared up. / In
tend to do all that 1 can to see tina
lit is cleared up"
4 Hefiin late yesterday repeated HI
willingness to name the men he sui
poets as having received Germa
money. adding. as he did In IN
House, that he can establish no proc
He declared the 1ountry Is with MI
on the question OF an investigation
the Bernstorff propaganda fund. Man
letters from all parts of the countr
reached his office. he said. They q
demand an investigation.
In scourging under the ancient Re
man method the euiprit was stripped