The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-09-27
LANSING D|SCLOSES
RERHsT0RFFS PLOT
PUBLICITY SPOTLIGHT TURNED
ON REVEALING GERMAN
INTRIGUE.
INVESTIGATION BEING URGED
Naiser's Ambassador Asks His Gov.
eminent for $4,000 to Expend in
Influencing Americas conares.
Against War.

! W %~V'OOO 10 EXPend in
Influencing Americas Congress-
Against War.
Washlngton.-The American pov.
ernment's publicity spotlight reveal
ing German intrigue M neutral lands
turneo upon the expenditure OF money
NY the Berlin foreign office in an eff
Iort TO influence congress on the eve
OF the ruthless submarine campaign
winch drove the United States to war.
secretary Lansing made public
without comment the text of a mesS
sage sent by Count Won Bernstorff IN
Berlin last January, asking authority
TO use $4,000 to influence congress-
through an organization, which the
foreign Office was reminded had per-
formed similar services before To
supplement this move Won Bernstorfr
suggested an official declaration in
favor Of Ireland for it's effect here
"Paciffsts" His Tools.
The organization to be emploved
was not named. 1t was freely sug-
gested among other officials, however.
that it was one Of the societies which
hooded members of congress with
peace messages when President viii
son was asking that a state of war be
recognized.
This disclosure adds another chan
Ter to the amazing story begun with
of the famous thinner
man note. 1t connects the German
government and Count Won Bernstorf
directly and conclusively with machf-
nations which the American public had
were part Of the world wide
reutonlc intrigue, but which many
people firmly believed were carried on
n financed by German-Americans
actual authority from Berlin.
Little surprise was occasioned either
official circles or at the capitol al
nough members Of congress were
ighly indignant. There was some
ak at the capitol of demanding an
1Vest1gation and Senator Overman,
hartman of the senate lobby commit
De, and Representative Flood, chair
ian of the house foreign affairs COM
l1ttee, arranged to. go to the state de-
and ask for more informa.
on.
Acted SuspiciousIy.
On the floor of the house, Represen-
tive Hef1in Of Alebama asserted that
could name Is or IA members of
q two branches of congress who had
ted suspiciously and expressed tho
Union that they should be Investigate
:. Generally, however, the DISPOSE
IN was to regard as absurd any sug-
stlon that any part of the $4,000
ught by Won Bernstorff was Intended
: members of congress.
The Won Bers- orff message, dated
nuary %, follows:
request authority to pay out I'D to
1000 fifty thousand dollars), in or
as on former occasions to influence
lgress through the organization you
Ow Of which can perhaps prevent
r.
am beginning in the meantime to
accordingly.
n the above circumstances a. nuh.
official German declaration in fav-
of Ireland is highly desirable. in
er to gain the support of Irish in
nee here.
Renewed kaiser's Pledges.
his message was sent nine days be-
the German government pro.
med its unrestricted submarine
fare. When he wrote it Count Won
nstorff was assuring the American
and press that under no
u0111d
pledges of the Sussex case or do
Thing that might draw the United
es into the list Of her enemies.
American government had made
move since the Sussex pledge and
e was nothing on the surface to
shadow impending trouble.
1dence has been accumulated to
e that the ambassador not only
cognizant of, but actually direct
The activities of Boyd and Won
n, the military and naval at
ss, respectively, who were sent
, long before the United States
3 relations with Germany.
More Revelations Coming.
W complete is the evidence Of
AN duplicity in possession of tho
'nment is only conjectural, but
it is far more than has been gen.
? supposed now is certain. It was
ated by officials that the series
velat1ons is now nearly complete.
the outside there are reaching
ate department echoes of the ap-,
ns1on sounded by friends of men
dis whom suspicion has long
ID.
re may be some discussion of the