The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-22
Attempt Made at Time Tcu.
tons Decided to Resume
U.B0at Activity.
BERNSTORFF LETTERS
GIVE PROOF OF PLOT
Fifty Thousand Dollars Used
in Effort to Stop War
Declaration.

1CNCdlluS NfcItVuu lHtIISuc I'LL uSuttsti
lands, turned today upon the expcn-
diturc of money by the Berlin foreign
office in an effort to influence con-
grcss on the eve Of the ruthless sub
marine campaign which drove the
United States to war.
Secretary Lansing made public
without comment the text of a mes
sage sent by Count von Bcrnstorff to
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 service before. TO
supplement this move, Won Bcrnstortf
suggested an official declaration in
favor OF Ireland for It's effect here.
The organization to be employed was
not named in the message and Mr..
Lansing did not discuss Its identity.
II was freely suggested among other
Officials. however, that II was one Of
the various societies which flooded
members Of the h6iian aud senate with
peace messages when President VIII
son was asking that state Of war be
recognized.
Another Chapter Of Intrigue.
This disclosure adds, another chap.
ter to the amazing story begun with
publication Of the famous thinner
mann note. in which Germany pro-
posed an alliance with Mexico and
japan against the United States, and
which has included the German Swed-
ish breaches of neutrality In Argentina
and Mexico. 1t connects the German
government and Count Won Bcrnstorff
directly and conclusively with ma :
/ chinatiOns which the American public
has assumed to be Il part OF the world :
wide Teuton intrigue, but which many
people firmly believed were carried on
or financied in this country by Ger
man. Americans without actual au-
thority from Berlin.
Investigation Proposed.
Little surprise was occasioned either
In official circles or at the capitol, al
though members of congress were
! highly indigant. There was some talk
at the capitol of demanding an ipvesti-
cation and Senator Ovcrman. chair
man Of the senate lobby committee
and Representative Flood, chairman,
of the house committee on foreign ar
fairs, arranged to go to the state de-
partmcnt tomorrow and ask for fur
ther information.
On tho floor OF tho house. Repre-
! sentative Hcflin Of Alabama asserted
that he could name IL or ~ members
of the two branches-of congress who
had acted suspiclously and expressed
the opinion that they should be in.
4 IN fierOt tCI 11,r hr, ~
disposition was to regard as absurd
any suggestion that any part of tht
$4,000 sought by Won Bernstorff wa,
intended for members Of congress.
Won esrnstorff's Message.
The Won Bernstorff message, datct
January %, 1917, follows:
II request authority to pay out
up to $4,000 (fifty thousand) in
order, rs or former cases, to influ-
cnce congress through the organi-
zation you know of. which can
perhaps prevent war;
II am. beginning In the mean
time to act accordingly.
''ln the above circumstances a.
public official German declaration
in favor of Ireland Is highly de-
sirable in order to gain the sup
port Of Irish influence herc.'
Shows German Duplieity.
This message was sent niue day
before the German government pro
claimed its unrestricted submarin
warfare. When he wrote 1t Count vol
Bernstorff was assuring the American
government and press. that under, n
circumstances would Germany violat
her pledges of the Sussex case or d
anything that. might draw the Unite
States into the list of her enemie,
with the Lnsitania and other casessi
abeyance. the American governmen
had made no move since the SUISSE
pledge and there was nothing on tn
surface to fOreshadow impendin
/ trouble.
Two weeks later, when Won. Bern
storff was handed his passports.
prOfessed ignorance of prior knowleds
; of his governments intentions to thro
, Its promises to the winds. -
! Directed Work Of Spies.
= Evidence has been accommodating
h prove that the ambassador not on
Y was cognizant of. but actually direct
j. the. actiyities OF B0y-Ed and v
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