The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-21
BERNSTORFF WHILE AMBASSADOR
HERE ASKED KAISER FOR 100000
TO USE IN INFLUENCING CONGRESS
WASHINGTON UNCOVERS PLOT WHEREBY MONEY WAS
TO BE USED THROUGH CERTAIN ORGANIZATION
AS ON FORMER OCCASIONS" TO PREVENT
AMERICA FROM DECLARING WAR

German intrigues here, many of which
led to the German embassy and some
Of which resulted in the recall at Pres.
ident Wilson's request Of Captains
Boy-Ed and Won Papen, the German
naval and military aides.
BernstOrif's Activities Watched.
For months, there have been many
indications that the American govern.
ment had established Bernstorffs di.
rect connection with much of the Ger.
man secret work conducted here and
that there was ample basis for re.
quest for his recall months before the
diplomatic break with Germany.
The suggestion was made that by
organization the ambassador might
nave meant any one of the different
so-called peace societies that were act.
i've at that time
1t was learned that state department
officials do not know what organiza.
ton the ambassador meant. II was
assumed however, that ne referred TO
an organization he had set up. al.
though some officials were inclined to
believe that the method Of influencing
was the using Of pacifsts rather than
to any direct subornation Of congress.
men.
Lansing Won't Discuss II.
Secretary Lansing adhered 10 his de.
termination not TO discuss this latest
disclosure, and refused To reveal the
manner in which the message 10 Rer.
lin came into the hands Of the govern.
ment. While the United States was
neutral certain privileges had been ex.
tended TO the German embassy in the
transmission OF messages. but only af.
ter their contents had been made
known.
No, this was not one that passed
through the governments channels of
communication" was the reply of an
official at the state department. when
IL was suggested that Ambassador
BernstOrif might have used the United
states as "a trausmitter of the message.
II is known that the message reached
Berlin. but whether the German for.
eign office was able 10 get a reply 10
America is not known.
IL was indicated that it came into
possession of the state department some
! time after it was sent. perhaps after
the break in relations and possibly az
ter the declaration Of war
BernStorils Duplicity known.
IL was pointed out that knowledge
of the ambassadors action az the time
It was taken would have precipitated
more immediate action, but the sugges.
tion was answered by the intimation
that the mass of evidence being gath.
cred then was of such character that
it might not have been considered nee.
essary or opportune 20 give undue i'm.
portance then 90 a knowledge of the
ambassadors duplicty.
Reference to former occasions" ON
which the ambassador had asked for
and used money ia influencing con.
gress. Is IN line with other evidence
now in possession OF the state depart.
ment showing the extent 10 which the
German government had gone in build.
ing up am organization for propaganda
and espionage
Little surprise over the disclosures
was manifested at the capitol
american Senators Talk
"lu view of the fact that charges OF
large expenditures OF money in German
propaganda have not been denied. II" said
Senator Reed this new evidence is Gu.
muletiye The money evidently was
spent Boz propaganda. II is possible that
there are men in this country big
enough scoundrels To take money for
that purpose would be- deeply inter.
ested If there is any charge that any
member OF congress knew that organl.
cations seeking 10 influence him We're
financed by Germany
Senator Norris disclaimed personal
knowledge OF the use OF money by Ger
man interests. but added.
IL have heard IL repeated" ne said.
that both Germany and England used
large sums OF money in this country.
No organization that / know Of got any
German money on any other Kind. As.
suredly no German money was used TO
Influence the members OF congress
who were against war The Bernstorff
message was sent you may notice. at
a time when President Wilson was
against war"