Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-06
upon
PLOT |SD|v|DED

Zimmerman Is Guilty
Of Diplomatic Error
Berlin, March (Via London) March
6-While some of the German papers
have received the news Of the German
Mexican intrigue with comparative In.
difference others have vigorously de-
nounced the policy of Foreign Secre-
tary Zimmerman and among these lat
ter 10 the Tages Zeitung. Count Won
Reventlow. formerly one OF the most
ardent advocates Of unrestricted sub.
marine warfare and ageneral q support.
er Of extreme measures, writes In the
Tages zeitung::
''As result OF the publication Of thA
German offer to Mexico. sentiment.
which has heretofore been divided IN
America, Is now solidly behind the
president. This oircumstance or its
possible results are hardly calculated
to, fill US with pessinaism, however.
those circles who have been basing
hopes for the preservation Of peace on
divided public opinion in the United
States are now forced to deplore the
turn things have taken and to doubt
the wisdom Of the German policy.
which, 80 far as Mexico is concerned,
may be stigmatized as bringing light
ed match In contact with = powder
cask.
Viewed from this angle, the offer
to. Mexico Is wholly incomprehensible
in view OF the Mexican conditions and
the further fact that an allied Mexico
held out no more promise than tha
one which would have exploited auto
matically> q German-American war. The
offer of such an alliance would seem
to rest largely upon a lack Of intimate
acquaintance with Mexican affairs and
American relations. Those desiring a
policy permitting q return Of the Unit
ed States to normal relations after tho
war cannot help but deplore the Ger.
man alliance plan from this viewpoint
alone. Mexico 10 frontier neishbor
Of the United States and the German
offer will not be forgotten so soon. II
Is to be deeply deplored that the chan
cellor and foreign secretary neglected
to seize the opportunity yesterday to
express themselves concerning this
episode and their political policies"
In opposition to the Tages Zeitung
the LolEal Anzeigsr strongly supports
tho policy Of Secretary Zimmerman.
Eh0 AnsAlgors aaDOss y ~
''Americans have not the slsghtest
reason to be provoked at our inten-
tions. Without treachery which
brought the German offer to the knowl-
edge Of the United States, government,
the Mexican government would not
have learned Of It until after the Unit
ed States had declared war on US. It
Is we'll known that President Wilson
attempted to incite not only one but
every neutral state to break of diplo-
matte relations with us. This was at
the time when Germany had not COM
mitted single hostile act against the
United States but merely because We
were finally forced to make use OF a
weapon calculated to hasten the con-
clusion OF peace. He has now no right
10 complain when we are too seeking
allies who might possibly help US to
thwart the step he aims to undertake
against u.s."
PLOT IS DEFENDED.
= "On the part Of Germany 1t is not
contested that the information set
'o,th In The Associated Press dis.
patches probably tallies with the es-
.ential facts" says the Tageblatt in
nscusing the Zimmerman note. pres
dent Wilson has been seeking among
1eutrals allies against Germany Just
,s Germany, in case Of war, naturally
would seek an ally against the United
States. Nevertheless It must he adj
nitted that the whole procedure in
his incident permits various observa.
ions. although in view Of the general
situation one is persuaded to postpone
Ill discussion thereof"
The Lokal Anzeiser says:
with commendable candor the Ger
nan government opposes its version
" the incident to the sensational and
biased reports coming from America.
rhe official statement plainly indicates
hat the step was merely a military |
md diplomatic precaution which the |
not only had a perfect |
light to take but which viewed as an |
defense against possible at |
ack was q plain matter OF national !
luty. The treachery which brought |
President WILSON, knowledge Of the |
,erman intentions is now being ex.
dotted in true American political |
ashton"
The vossische ZeituRg says:
"The German offer OF an alliance |
With Mexico is anording the English |
lews service welcome material for a
Of batting Inasmuch as We
re wholly dependent on English
ources Of information. 1t is we'll to
'roceed with caution in estimating
ews values. This 10 plainly Indicated
lready in the discussion Of the
Method and manner in which the
United States came into possession OF
he information.
ROYAL MAIL SHIP
CYLYAYIX LAKY a