The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-03-09
DOUBTFUL If, CARRANZA, EVER
SAW GERMAN LETTER
Know That Communication Never Did
Reach Japan; Attempt to Align Two
Countries Against the United States
Planned For Consummation About
The Time War Broke Out Between
Uncle Sam and the Teutons
From Thursdays Daily.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.1


ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.1
Juarez, Mexico, March 1.-The German
consulate here was robbed last night and
are reported taken.
st. Paul, Mimi, March 1.-The start
ling news from Washington about the
letter that lay bare the German plot to
align Mexico and Japan against the
Hans Grunow, the German consul at ST.
Paul, who was recalled when the dip
lomatc relations between Germany and
the United States were broken off, de-
ciaring that the German government had
assigned him to Guatemala, and had not
recalled him to Berlin. Herr Grunow re-
quested the United States 30 grant him
safe conduct through Mexico to Guate-
r:ala, but this was refused. The fed
eraI authorities declared that they could
grant him safe conduct back to Berlin
only. 1t was evident that Hans Grunow
was anxious to go through Mexico. What
did this mean? 1t will be remembered
that his name was associated with some
of the activities of Captain Boy-ed.
Washington, March 1.-Germany's
attempt to align Mexico and Japan
against the United States has met
with a fiat failure, according to
statements given out by the American
department of state today. Germany
has been frustrated in this design, as
far as is known. AS far as is known,
the letter that was written on this
subject by the German foreign min
lister, Herr Zimmerman, at Berlin, to
Herr Eckhart, German minister at
Mexico city, never reached President
CarranZa of the Mexican republic at
all. Nor, as far as known, was such a
message ever passed onto Japan. But
the letter did reach the German min
lister at Mexico Getty, and the anthem
ITCHY of the letter is vouched for by
President Wilson himself.
How the Plan Was Suggested.
An interesting feature of the Ger
man plot is that the attempt to align
Mexico and Japan against the United
States was not to be made, until it
became evident that there would be
an outbreak of war between Germany
and the United States. The matter was
not to be preached to the Mexican
president at all, until such time. At
the time of the dismissal of Count
Bernstorff, the German ambassador
at Washington, no such outbreak of
hostilities was evident.
Belief OF Lansing.
Secretary of State Lansing stated
today that he did not believe the
Mexican government would take an
attitude of hostility towards the Unit
ed States. He declared that the Car
rama government had always been
friendly to the United States and
there was every reason to believe
that it would continue so. The state
department admits that Count Won
Bernstorff was fully informed of the.
letter that was written by Herr
Zimmerman to Herr Eckhart. Doubt
is expressed as to whether Presi-
dent Carranza ever as much as saw
that communication.
Mexico Should Be Neutral.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.]
Mexico, City, March 1.-Most Mex
lean officials here declined to dis
cuss Germany's effort to involve
Mexico in war with the United
States except TO say they thought
such efforts were in vain. Mexico
should be neutral.
Zimmerman In Address.
UNITED Press Dispatch1
London. Eng, March According to
a statement, given out by the official
press bureau at Berlin, Foreign Secre-
tary Zimmerman, in an address today to
the reichstag, stated that the American
government was DESTROYS of avoiding war
with Germany, if the German govern
ment would consider abandoning its
present submarine policy. Secretary Zim-
norman also stated, according to this
dispatch, that he did not think it adj
visable for Germany to abandon this
present submarine policy. 1t is under
stood that this information was COM
municated to the American government
by the Swiss ambassador at Washington,