The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-01
WOULD STAB
AMERICA IN BACK
published text was substantially cor.
(Continued from page ID

published text was substantially COZ
rect.
That the Japanese government
would not consider any proposiuo
such as that advocated by Secretai
OF Foreign Affairs Zimmerman =
his Mexican-Japanese plot note
was the conviction expressed by see
rotary Lansing today.
Lansing authorized the 1oilowini
statement:
THE department does not beiiev'
Japan has had any knowledge OF tnls
or that she would consider any prop
osition made by an enemy
Iansing also expressed belief thal
the Mexican government would aIsf
ignore any such proposition M
said:
1--WE have confidence that Mexico
would not become party to 1t IN view
OF friendly relations between thli
country and the defacto government.
While Withholding discussion OF
the governments information on the
German plot, lest some ones Life
be endangered" the state department
did admit that IL has full evidence OF
the plot. that the Zimmerman note
had reached Ambassador Won Bern
storff here and that 1t also had reach
ed the German minister IN Mexico
Doubt was expressed that General
Carranza himself had ever seen rne
communication or been informed OF
its contents owing to the fact that
the plot was not actually to take
form except in the event OF actual
hostilities between the United States
and Germany.
Japanese Asrl77;s.sss5 ssadOT Sdt0 was
called to the department yesterday
and told OF the Information which
had been secured as TO the threaten
ed plot.
While Lansing would not discuss
in any way what Sato had to say
about it, the fact that he used the
statement quoted above indicates the
japanese ambassador must have de-
MED any knowledge OF 1t and scorn-
ed any possibility OF his government
being in any way Interested.
This theory is also borne ont by
the statement Ambassador Sato made
through the United Press this morn
ing.
Lansing intimated this government
had been working for the past four
months on the case but until recent
elusive evidence of the plot
No Ships There.
sANDIEGO, Calf. March Limited
States customs officials here denied
absolutely today that they had infor-
nation regarding alleged activities or
even presence OF German vessels.
other than those interned, along the
MEXICAN weSf eOast
Earlier stories, circulated within
che last month, of German armed
merchantmen being seen in Magda-
lena bay. were branded as "rumors,
without foundation as far as had been
harmed by the customs department
Germans In Mexico.
Ell PASO, Texas, March limited
E1zIes government agents. inTestisat
ting reports OF German assistance DC
.ss given villa. have information thal
Germans have been advising the band
It leader as To his field operations and
have been aiding him with money. II
IS declared that 200 Germans now re
manning In northern Mexico are being
given guarantees OF safety and special
privileges By both Villa and Carranza
authorities,
Investigations conducted by British
agents in Ell Paso recently, resulted in
obtaining information indicating that
activities OF German secret agents in
Mexico have extended over long pc.
Rod Of time. The British agents have
obtained proof that German interests
instigated the battle at Parral In
which American troops were am.
bushed by Carranza soldiers while the
American troops were standing on a
street mob in April, 1916.
After the battle. General Jose De
La Luz Herrera, commander of the
Carranzista garrison, made affidavit
before American army officers in
which he charged tha. German Con-
Bular Agent Koch at Parral had work.
ed up the fight" The affidavit has
been filed with the war department at
Washington.
Since Villas latest mysterious dis
appearance, authentic information as
to the bandit chieftain's whereabouts
has not been obtained. report has
been received here that General Hur-
guia- Carranza commander, has ar
rested DR.. A. Schroeder physician
az Parral, charging him with hiding
Villa and giving him medical treat
meHt. Villa was said to have been
wounded in skirmish with govern
ment troops before his disappear
ance."
Letter is Genuine.
WASHINGTON, March l.-Presi-
dent Wilson stands sponsor for the
declaration that Germany attempted
TO plot Japan and Mexico into a CON
spiracy against the United States.
In a formal statement, Senator
Swanson told the senate today:
President Wilson authorizes me
TO say that the Zimmerman letter to
the German embassy in Mexico. pro-
posing an alliance with Japan and
Mexico is substantially correct.
The statement followed introduc-
ton OF a resolution by Senator Lodge
inquiring as TO the correctness of the
letter.
Senator La Toilette wanted the
Lodge measure modified so il would
bring out when the letter came into
this governments possession. Lodge
hcceded to the modification.