The midland journal., 1917-09-28
PLOT TO USE MONEY To INFLUENCE
CONGRESS PART Of GERMAN INTRIGUE
Capital Aroused by Secretary of State Lansngs Disclosures Of
Count Won Bernstor's Effort to Buy Peace in
the United States.


and other government officials are now
prepared for almost any disclosures
Of German intrigue in the United
States, following the publication by
Secretary of State Lansing of the tele-
gram sent by Count Won Bernstorf
to the German foreign Office on jan
uary % last, asking for authority to
expend $4,000 for the purpose of in
fluencing congress in an effort to pre-
vent war between the United States
and Germany.
Official Washington was prepared
for almost anything after the recent
revelations made by the state depart
ment regarding German diplomatic
methods in neutral countries, but in
spite of this preparation, they were
literally astounded by the publication
of proof that Count Won Bernstorff
himself was directing the expenditure
of money for the express purpose OF
influencing members of congress.
Former Efforts Shown.
The amazing part of Count Won
Bernstorff's communication is this SEN
tence: 81 request authority to pay
out up to $4,000 in order, as on for
mer occasions, to influence congress,
through the organization you know of,
which can perhaps prevent war;"
This reference to former occasions
is taken to show that this was not
the first instance in which German
money was used in an effort to inf1u-
ence American legislation and that
the German foreign Office was well
aware of the identity of the organiza-
ton through which the German diplo-
mats in this country conducted their
intrigue.
This revelation, on the heels of the
Swedish German Argentine Mexican
Philippine exposure and coupled with
the Zimmerman Mexican-Japanese
plot note, officials say, clinches this
governments contention that Germany
carried on active plottings and propa-
ganda all over the world.
This startling message, however,
was the first positive evidence made
public that Bernstorff had personal
guilty knowledge of the German in
trigue in this nation.
Had Been Long Suspected.
It had long been suspected that he
was the directing head of anti-Ameri-
can work, and this government had
proved that his colleague, the Austrian
ambassador, was conducting vicious
plot while the two countries were still
at peace.
Bernstorff's advice concerning Ire
land was apparently needed, for in
one of her pronunciamentos Germany
made much of the fact that she was
for home rule for Ireland and in
India.
The date of the communication was
at the time when Germany and the
United States were directly on the
verge of breaking relations, and In
less than ten days later the Teutons
put into effect their unwarned subma-
rine decree.
1t is significant also that during this
particular period Bernstorff was tell
ing the press that he would do all
in his power to prevent war between
Germany and the United States.
And he continued to say even after
the break that he would use his inf1u-
ence upon reaching Berlin to avoid ac-
tual hostilities. He was known to be
sending messages to his home govern
ment at that time endeavoring to
straighten out the tangled relations of
the two countries.
Bernstorff, while protesting to feel
kindly toward America, wished to
avoid war simply for the reason that
American strength would turn the bal
ance against Germany, authorities say.
See Irish German Link.
The link between Germany and the
Irish-Americans has been known
rather clearly to this government for
some time, and the Sir Roger case
ment affair showed rather conclusive
ly that Germany was seeking Irish
American sympathies or trying to Gre
ate trouble for England and home rule
for Ireland.
The state department did not an
nounce the name of the organization
which was to handle the $4,000,
though probably investigation has CIV
EN- the government a. line on Its iden-
tity.
The suggestion was made that by
Organization" the ambassador might
have meant any one of the different
so-called peace societies that were ac-
tive at that time. That may have been
true. but 1t was learned that state de-
nartment officials do not know what
the ambassador did mean.
Planned to Use Paeifists.
It was assumed, however, that he
referred to an organization he had set
up although some officials were in