Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-06
GIVES HISTORY OF
BREAK WITH KAISER
L. ). RETORTS TO ZIMMERMAN
SPEECH BY GIVING
DATES.

The recent speech by the German
foreign minister, Herr Zimmerman.
in which he endeavored to blame the
United States for the break with
Germany and to put all responsibility
upon the United States for war be-
tween the two countries. brought
forth a hot, though informal. retort
from the national administration.
In making it's reply the govern
ment, through the state department,
also made public for the first time
some secret information which casts
a new light on the developments that
led President Wilson to sever diplo-
matte relations with Germany.
In the highest official circles the
Zimmerman address was hailed as
the closest indication yet given that
Germany may declare war against
the United States. One official, hold
ing a most responsible portfolio.
frankly admitted the Zimmerman
speech might be construed to mean
that Germany already considers her.
self at war with us and is carrying
out her submarine warfare on that
theory.
At the moment the state depart
ment was defining it's position dis
patches were coming in telling OF
the destruction by German subma-
rines of the lives of more Americans
in the war zone.
History of Break.
Here is the history of the break
with Germany, as given for the first
time:
The United States knew two weeks
before Germany promulgated her
decree of unrestricted submarine
warfare that Germany was about to
take such action.
Count Won Bernstein, then Ger
man ambassador here, also knew Of
it. He likewise was informed of the
attitude of the United States. He
knew that diplomatic relations would
be broken off II his government is
sued such decree.
The German ambassador made nu-
merous visits to the state depart
ment to assure this government that
he was exerting every effort and
bringing to bear every word Of ad-
vice against the plan of his govern
ment. He told Berlin fatty that to
issue the contemplated decree would
mean a break with America. State
department officials expressed this
week their belief in the earnestness
of Won Bernstoff's effort to prevent
Germany from declaring war zone.
Then on January 81, the decree
was given to the world by Berlin.
Herr Zimmerman, speaking before
the reichstag, is quoted as saying
that the United States broke of re-
lations with extraordinary rough
ness" and that Ambassador Won
Bernstorff was given no time to
"elucidate orally the German atti-
tude."
Germany Given Time.
Instead, 1t was stated on the high
est authority, the United States
held back it's hand for three days in
order to give Germany-through the
ambassador or otherwise-time to
give full expression to It's views and
to propose any notifications she
might desire to make as regards
American shipping in the war zone.
Germany was silent. She showed
no evidence of desiring further dis
cussion. Thereupon President Will
son went before congress and an
nounced that Ambassador Won Bern
storff had been handed his pass
ports.
The same high officiel who gave
this exposition Of the diplomatic
course of the United States declared
that were the Zimmerman speech
officially before this government
or quoted-that 1t might we'll serve
as proof that Germany considered
herself at war with the United
States and that no further declara-
ton is necessary.
Herr Zimmermann's address is re-
garded as merely another Of the nu-
merous German efforts to prove that
country imposed upon and abused, a
method much in favor with German
statesmen ever since the war began.
Officials consider the speech not in
tended as much for American and
neutral eyes as for home consump-
ton.
I Schools Join in Buying Supplies.
NORTH YAKIMA, April Gift