Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-02

would consider any proposition made
by an enemy"
As to Mexico, the secretary said.
I'VE have confidence that Mexico
would not be a party to any such
agreement in view OF the friendly re-
latiohs existing between this govern
ment and the de facto government
OF Mexico"
Secretary Lansing took great care,
it will be noted, to exonerate both
Japan and Mexico, and said this gov
eminent had no knowledge that the
proposal had been conveyed through
Mexico to Japan. a. -.
In view of the fact that the plan
was not to be presented until ut is
certain that there will be an out
break of war with the United States"
it was not certain, Secretary Lansing
said, that the matter had been pre-
sented officially to General Carranza
at all.
Traced to Mexico City.
1t is known definitely, officials said.
that Zimmerman's instructions had
reached Count Won Bernstorff here in
Washington, that he forwarded them
to Mexico City and that they reached
the German minister there. At this
point the trail of official certainty is
lost to view. 49,
Secretary Lansing fatty refused to
give any indication Of how the in
formation came into possession OF
the United States government, on the
ground that it would endanger the
lives of those concerned. For OBJ
yious reasons, which he could not
amplify, he refused to discuss the
source in any way.
Japan Would Reject It.
Ambassador Sato OF Japan was in
formed of the possession of the text
Of Germany's proposal by this govern
ment yesterday afternoon when he
called at the State department to see
Counsellor Polk.
With regard to the alleged Ger
man attempt to induce Japan and
Mexico to make war upon the United
States, made public in the press this
morning, the Japanese embassy, while
lacking information as to whether
such invitation ever reached Toxic,
desires to state most emphatically'
that any invitation OF this sort would
under no circumstances be entertained
by the Japanese government, which is
in entire accord and close relations
with the other powers, on account of
formal agreements and our common
cause and moreover, our good friend
ship with the United States which is
every day growing in sincerity and cor
diality." s#lN
Lodge Resolution Referred.
Senator Stones request to have the
resolution referred to the foreign re-
lations committee without any iu-
structions as to when it should re-
port was adopted by unanimous con-
sent.
The text OF the Lodge resolution is
as follows:
"That the president be requested to
inform the senate whether the note
signed zimmerman published in the
newspapers of the morning of March
], inviting Mexico to unite with Ger:
many and Japan in war against the
United States is authentic and in the
possession of the government of the
United States and, if authentic, to
send to the senate, if not incompati-
Bile with the public interest, any fur
Their information in the possession OF
the United States government rela-
tive to the activities of the imperial
German government in Mexico"
Discussion in Senate.
Senator Swanson informed Senator
Lodge that the democratic senators
had been authorized by the President
to state that the account of the Zim-
norman note as revealed by the AS
ISOLATED Press was substantially cor
rect.
Senator LaFollette of Wisconsin
said he would not object to passage
of the Lodge resolution providing it
was amended to ask the president to
state when the Zimmerman note had
come into possession of the United
States.
1T is time" said Senator LaFollette,
shat we should know how long the
president or any branch Of the govern
ment has had the document in his
possession"
Thinks Senate Should Know.
Senator Lodge declared that when
"a great news gathering association
like the Associated Press put forward
seriously and solemnly what purports
to be dispatch from the secretary Of
foreign affairs OF Germany, inviting