Evening star., 1917-03-02
GERMAN INTRIGUE
CALLED CLUMSY
British Press Comment on Dis
: closures of Offer Made to
Japan and Mexico.
GLAD REVELATION is MADE

LONDON, March 2, 1857 p.m-A ma
jority of the morning newspapers give
the greatest prominence to the Ger
man plot to have Mexico and Japan go
to war with the United States If that
country should not remain neutral in
the European situation. In addition to
the Associated Press dispatch they
print long special dispatches from
Washington and New York under big
headlines. Amazing German Treach-
cry and "Bernstorff's Perfldy" are
among the headlines, which indicate
the general treatment of the story.
Striking exceptions in this respect
are the Northcliffe newspapers, which
do not treat the news as especially i'm
portant and do not comment editorially
on 1t. The Daily Mail condenses the
story into half column and has no
display headlines, while the Times,
though treating it more fully, does not
especially emphasize the story.
Compound Of 'Knavery and 1diocy.'
The Daily Telegraph declares that but
for Senator Swanson's statement re-
garding the authenticity of the German
revelations. it could hardly have been
brought. to believe IN the existence of
such compound of knavery and
idiocy." which it also describes as the
supreme deed Of the war, only equaled
in dastardly character by it's ridicu-
louS aspect"
The Telegraph expects that Japan
will meet the-incident with a declara-
ton which will once for all convince
the American people that they have as
little cause to fear the japanese as the
British dominions in the Pacific have"
Glad Revelations Were Made.
The Telegraph regards the matter as
tantamount to an act of war; and con-
cludes:
I'VE are glad that the revelations
were made at this juncture, because
they will convey to the other neutrals
further proof of the Importance to be
attached to Germany'S asSeverationS of
friendship. She is exhibited as shame
less in her accommodating dishonor, plot
ting first against one state and then
another. in the desperate hope that she
may somehow be saved from the fate
must remain in peril until this hideous
caricature of it's own image is ex-
plunged from human records"
Called Clumsy Performance"
The Globe says:
whenever Germany attempts a deli
cate maneuver in diplomacy she ir-
resistibly suggests the elephant who
tried to hatch hens eggs, for clumsier
performances it is impossible to i'm
agine. OF the MeXico-Japan-
ese intrigue the Germans made about
as big mess as possible. The japanese
are proud, chivalrous people and they
are npt likely to forget the compliment
paid them by coupling the mikado with
Carranza. At one stroke Chancellor
Won Bethmann Hollweg has irrepar-
ably offended the pride of the Japan
ese. has convinced the whole American
people that Germany is their enemy
and has inflicted upon his own people
ineffaceable disgrace"
The Pail Mall Gazette says:
1.-The German plan to induce Japan to
play their game is fair measure of
German inability to understand the tenn
perament of nations whose word is their
bond and whose allegiance is not to be
bought or sold Foreign Secretary
Zimmermann's letter was like a cold
plunge to Americans, who imagined that
distance could keep them safe from en-
tanglements of European politics. They
now realize Germany had wires laid and
mines dug under the very feet of their
republic and had been long preparing to
take the utmost advantage of American
unpreparedneSS."
Recalls England's Experience.
The Standard says: 1.-The United
States is only experiencing a little of
what Great Britain suffered during a
period of profound peace. German agents
labored long and assiduously to foment
trouble in India. in South Africa, in Per-
sia, in Afghanistan and in North Africa.
while Germany lulled British opinion into
unsuspecting repose. This attempt to
mobilize Japan and Mexico against Amer
ica while protesting friendship is too
Judas-like to be forgotten by a straight
forward people like Americans
Branded as Fantastic Villainy."
The Westminster Gazette, which
brands the plot as fantastic villatny."
says:
TT has all the clumsiness, all the
malice and shallow cunning of the
other Vaccinations Of the same kind
that we disclosed in Egypt, India and
Ireland. It is thoroughly characteristic
Of the apostles Of kultur and of the
kaiser, who is the protector of Islam
races against Europeans. It Is also
characteristic that they are not even
able to keep their plots to themselves.
but are discovered before they have be-
gun, Win luo documents
upon them"
The German documents, the Gazette
says, will show Americans that Ger
many's Vaccinations and ambitions are
not confined to Europe, Asia and Africa,
1t shows them what is her real esti-
mate of the Monroe doctrine and how
far she would respect it If victory
should give her the opportunity Of
fouting it. : Clumsy and stupid as
this document is. there could hardly be
more explosive matter packed into the
short space, or SO much warning Of
fered in a few words to Americans of
what Is at stake for them in the Euro
pean war.
Result Of Secret Diplomacy.
1.-THE wickedness of secret diplomacy"
is the moral the Manchester Guardian
draws, and which it believes most peo-
ple will draw. from the account of Ger
man fntrigues in Mexico.
president Wilson would seem TO
have drawn it." the newspaper saws
.and we are inclined to think the pub
rca+ion Of the story the most sienih.
csnt thing that has happened between
naI,traIs and Germany since the United
states broke OF diplomatic relations
with Germany.
While the Guardian contends that
W