The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-03-01
Letter Suggesting Plan, However, Never
Reached Caranza Who Was to
Transmit il to Japan
LODGE WANTS TO KNOW
SOURCE OF INFORMATION
Ambassador SaiO Declares Japan Would
Not Enter Into Plot But Thinks Ger
many Capable Of Proposal
BY United Press.

BY United Press.
Washington, March president
Wilson stands sponsor for the state
ment that Germany attempted to plot
Japan and Mexico into conspiracy
against the United States.
In formal statement today, Sena-
tor Swanson told the senate. "Presi-
dent Wilson authorizes me to say that
the Zimmerman letter to the German
embassy in Mexico proposing an alli-
ance between Mexico and Japan. as
published in the morning papers, was
substantially correct"
However, Germany's attempt to
align those nations in a hostile con-
gpiracy against the United States has
been frustrated. AT the state depart.
mems it. was intimaied that as far as
known the letter from Foreign Secre,
tary Zimmerman, which is youched
for personally by the president, never
reached Carranza. Attention was call
ed to the fact that in his instructions
Zimmerman stipulated to Eckhardt,
the German minister to Mexico, that
the latter should broach the matter to
Carranza only as 'soon as it is GER
tain that there will be an outbreak Of
war with the United Staesv
It is pointed out that this certainty
had not developed at the time Ambas
sador Bernstorff left the United
States.
Doubt as te the authenticity of the
letter was voiced in the senate be-
cause of the fact t..at it first came to
light through the press but this doubt
was quickly dispelled when Senator
Swanson made formal statement,
stating. that the president authorized
him to say that the published text was
substantially correct.
That the Japanese government
would not consider such proposition
was the conviction expressed by Sec
retary Lansing who announced that
his department did not believe that
Japan had any knowledge Of the mat
ter or that she would consider any
proposition made by an enemy
Japanese Ambassador Sata denied
knowledge Of the alleged Japanese inn
rlication but admitted that the report |
that Germany made such an attempt
through Mexico was probably true
Germany is much mistaken If she
thinks my country will combine with
Mexico to make war against the Unit !
ed States. In this / speak authorita-
lively for my government" said Sata.
A resolution offered by Senator
Lodge in the senate inquiring as to
the correctness Of the letter and ask
ing when the letter came into the
hands OF the government started a
spirited fight.
Secretary Lansing expressed the be-
lief that the Mexican government
would ignore the proposition. While
Withholding any discussion of the
sources of the governments informa-
tion concerning the German plot lest
someone's life be endangered" the
department admitted that it has full
evidence of the plot and that the zim-
norman note reached Ambassador
'Bernstorff here and also reached Ger
man Minister Eckhardt in Mexico.
Doubt is expressed that Carranza
himself ever saw the communication
or was informed of its contents, owing
to the fact that the plot was not to
actually take form except in the event
OF hostilities.
Japanese Ambassador Sato called at
the department yesterday and was told
If the plot.
The Lodge resolution in the senate
was finally referred to the committee