The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-01

Washington, March 1.-Germany'!
plan to ally Mexico and Japan agains
the United States was corroborateC
by state department officials today.
Secretary Lansing, however, stated
that the proposal of Foreign Minister
Zimmerman failed to reach Mexico
having been intercepted while in tran
sit
The Zimmerman document. the sec
retary said, had therefore never come
to the attention of the Japanese gov
eminent. The secretary further said
that he did not believe that Japan
would give such a proposal any con.
sideration.
Washington, March President
Wilson is sponsor for the revelation
of the German plot to ally Mexico and
japan against the United States.
Senator Swanton today stated that
the publication of the details of the
scheme was made with the presi-
dents approval
Senator Swanson's statement was
made in reply to a resolution intro.
duced by Senator Lodge making in.
quiry as to the correctness OF the
newspaper stories of the plot.
Following is a copy of Minister
Zimmermann's instructions TO Minis
ter Won Eckhardt at Mexico City. sent
through Won Bernstorff. now in pos
session of United States government:
Berlin, January 10, 1917.
"On the 1st of February we intend
to begin submarine warfare unre-
strcted. In spite of this, It is our in
tention to endeavor to keep neutral
the United States of America.
"If this attempt is not successful,
we propose an alliance on the follow
ing basis with Mexico: That we shall
make war together and together make
peace. We shall give general fnanci
al support, and 1t 10 understood that
Mexico is to reconquer the lost terri.
tory in New Mexico. Texas and Arl.
zona. The details are left to you for
settlement.
"You are instructed to inform the
president of Mexico Of the above in
the greatest confidence as soon as II
is certain that there will be an out.
break Of war with the United States,
and suggest that the president OF
Mexico, on his own initiative, should
communicate with Japan suggesting
adherence at once to this plan; at the
same time, offer to mediate between
Germany and Japan.
"Please call to the attention Of the
president of Mexico that the employ.
ment OF ruthless submarine warfare
now promises to compel England to
make peace in few months.
"(Siened) Zimmermann".
Washington. March Germany, in
planning unrestricted submarine war
fare and counting its, consequences
proposed an alliance with Mexico and
Japan to make war on the United
States, if this country should not re.
main neutral.
Japan through Mexican mediation
was to be urged to abandon her allies
and join In the attack on the United
States. Mexico, for her reward, was
to receive general financial support
from Germany reconquer Texas, New
Mexico and Arizona-lost provinces
and share in the victorious peace
terms Germany contemplated.
Details were left to German Minis
ter Won Eckhardt in Mexico City who
by instructions signed by German For
eign Minister Zimmerman at Berlin
January 10, 1917,-before the United
States had word of the unrestricted
submarine campaign, was directed tc
propose the alliance with Mexico tC
Gen Carranza and suggest that Mexi
co seek to bring Japan into the plot
These instructions were transmitted
to Won Eckhardt through Count vor
Bernstorff. former German embassa
dor at Washington, now on his way
home to Germany under a safe con
duct obtained from his enemies by the
| country against which he was plotting
war.
Germany pictured to Mexico. by
| broad intimation, England and the en-
tente allies defeated; Germany ant
her allies triumphant and in worlt
domination by the instrument of un
restricted submarine warfare.
A copy of zimmermann's instruc
tions to Won Eckhardt, sent through