The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-21

|
ing addition to the series of disclosures
covering German intrigues in America
and elsewhere, which is a message sent
lby Count Won Bernstorff in January OF
this year to the Berlin foreign office
requesting authority to pay out $780, 900
to influence congress through an un.
named organization, apparently known
to the Berlin authorities.
Count Won Bernstorff indicated in his
messages that money had been paid
this organization on former occasions
to perform the same work.
Text Of Message.
| The text of the message made public
without comment follows
Il request authority to pay out up
to $4,000 fifty thousand dollars. in
order, as on former occasions. to in.
fluence congress through the organi.
zation you know Of, which can perhaps
prevent war.
Il am beginning in the meantime to
act accordingly.
'In the above circumstances. a pub.
lie official German declaration in favor
Of Ireland is highly desirable, in order
to gain the support Of Irish influence
here"
Whether the state department is in
possession of other evidence indicating
the ambassadors activities, has not
been revealed, but the extraordinary
disclosures already made have fixed the
belief that agents Of the United States
government have collected and compn.
ed the entire story of German duplic.
| ity and intrigue, and that additional
chapters will be added.
Knew Sub Warfare Coming
The reference 20 avoiding war IS
taken as an indication that Ambassa.
dor Bernstorff had prior knowledge OF
his governments intention to proclaim
IA merciless widespread submarine war.
fare, and that he was equally confident
that the United states government
could not he easily placated by mere
promises The German announcement
OF its intention o. expand It's submar
I inc activities was not made public un.
til January 3l when the world was
startled not only 10y the determination
! to remove an restrictions. but by the
statement that il would become effect.
i've on the following day. Three days
later the United States government
expressed its disapproval by severing
relations with Germany
That the German ambassador knew
OF his governments intention was AS
sumed by some officials. although al
the same time DE denied prior knowl-
edge. and those in close touch with the
embassy We're given 20 understand that
he did not approve the course. and
worked 90 secure modification
Use Of the $4,000.
/ II has not been assumed that the am.
hassador actually attempted 10 bribe or
personally influence any member OF
congress, and doubt that such was his
purpose is supported Go some extent by
the comparatively small amount Of
money he asked. Fifty thousand dol.
lars it was pointed out. would go hut
a short way towards buying the infiu-
ence of any congressman. Judiciously
expended, however, it might do much
= in compensation paid agents such as
Iare now known to have belonged 90 the
I elaborate machine Bernstorf had so
carefully built un for the production Of
propaganda and for purposes Of cspiou.
/ age.
Some American Higherups Involved.
Information in the possession OF the
government, bu, not yet revealed. is
said 90 show conclusively a more direct
connection OF the German machine In
America with the Irish question than
that indicated iu Count Won Bernstorff's
message. The records with the depart.
mont OF justice are said to contain the
names OF men implicated In that phase
OF Germanic intrigues well known In
| America
Today's announcement Is the first OF.
fetal utterance OF the government with
reference 20 the German ambassadors
active personal participation in the
maze Of plots and intrigues conducted
for Germany's benefit in this country
since the beginning of the war.
The evidence OF Count Won Bern.
storffs personal activities bears the
date of President Wilson'S address to
congress. January %. reciting his ap.
peal 20 the warning nations TO enter
into peace negotiations At the same
time, President Wilson was addressing
congress, apparently Count Won Bern.
s,orff was appealing to his government
for funds with which TO influence con.
gressional action.
II was not the first time. apparently.
that Coun Won Bernstorff had sought To
influence the American congress
That Certain Organization.
The name OF the organization through
which the German government had
sought to influence congress. the m,n.
ner In which the money used for this
purpose was expended. the previous in.
stances and the individuals CARRYING
on the propaganda. although not dis
closed, are subjects OF well defined sus
pioions at the state department and to
the department Of Justice. whose bu
reau OF Investigation for more than
three years has been conducting a rigid
surveillance OF German activities in
this country
The records OF the department OF
Justice are overhowing with reports
from hundreds Of agents concerning