Judsonia weekly advance., 1917-09-26
Plan to Use Money to Influence Congress on War ArouSes
 Legislators.
BERNSTORFF SEEN UNMASKED
Disclosures Made by Secretary of State Lansing Regarded as Show ing Ambassador Directed Ger
 man Intrigue.

German diplomatic agents in the United States violated all rules of ln- ternational courtesy and conSpred to influence congress by the use of money to prevent this country from going to war to defend itself from the attacks of the German government is seen in the publication by Secretary of State Lansing of note from Count von Bernstorff, former German ambassador to the United States, asking for author ity to eXpend $50,000 for the purpose of influencing congress.
 The publication of this note was a greater bomb-shell than any of the oth- CT revelations of German duplicity that have been made by the state depart ment. Neutral diplomats, members of congress and others were literally as founded by the disclosures. It has been no secret that the German diplo- matic representatives ill the United States conSpired in various ways to prevent this country from entering the war on the side of the allies but the proof that German money was used or was to be used for the specific pur- pose of influencing congress furnished an amazing climax for all the revela- tions that have gone before.
 Telegram Sent by Bernstorff.
 The telegram, exposed by Secretary of State Lansing, Was sent through some secret channel to the Berlin for eign office on Jan. 22, 1917, by Count von Bernstorff, former ambassador of Germany. 1t was as follows:
 T request authority to pay out up to $5O,OUO (tifty thousand dollars) ln order, as on former occasions, to influ- ence congress through the organlza- prevent war.
 q am beginning in the meantime to act accordingly.
 'In the above circumstances public official German declaration in favor of Ireland is highly desirable, in order to gain the support of Irish influence here"
 Some congressman expressed the view that the money was spent in a campaign by telegraph just before the United States declared state of war, when millions of mess, sses were poured in upon members of both houses.
 German propagandists used the tele- graph wires freely to further their purposes.
 The message of Count von Bern h Lansing was sent last January, at q time when there were no outward in dications of break between the United States and Germahy. This, off cials said, showed that Count von Bernstorff was fully aware of the kaiser's plans to launch ruthless sub marine warfare, thus repudiating Ger manys pledges to the United States.
 Exposes German Deceit.
 State department officials declined to comment upon the object hoped to be realized as result of the publica- tion of the Bernstortf message. It was believed, however, to have as it's pur- pose supplementing the general policy of exposing to the world the malicious deceit that characterizes German dip lomacy, the revelation of German in- spiration of peace propaganda in America.
 - 1t was denied that there was any in tent to reflect upon congress in mak- ing the dispatch public at this time. It could not be ascertained that there was any design in selecting any par ticular moment for the publication and it was asserted also to be a mere co incidence that the exposure occurred just after the arrival of Count von Bernstorff at Constantinople as Ger man ambassador to Turkey.
 Officials made it plain that the gov ernment had some information of Ger many's policy of duplicity before Bern storff requested authorization to con tinue his campaign to influence con gress. There was qualification in off cial quarters that the ambassador did not presume to intimate to his govern ment that any amount of propaganda could influence President Wilson,.
 Officials asserted that the govern ment had an idea of the identity of the organization referred to by Ambassa- dor Bernstorff, but, there being no ab- solute certainty, none would be named.
 It was said to be unfair to draw the