Arizona republican., 1917-09-22
IN I TR|G()E
 PROBE IS DEMANDED
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21-The Amer ican governments publicity spotlight revealing German intrigue in neutral lands turned today upon the expendi- ture of money by the Berlin foreign of flee in an effort to influence congress on the eve of the ruthless submarine campaign which drove the United States to war.
 Secretary Lansing made public with out comment the text of a message sent by Count von Bernstorff to Berlin last January, asking authority to use $50,000 to influence congress through an organization which the foreign of flee was reminded had performed simi- lar service before. To supplement this move, Von Bernstorff suggested an Of ficial declaration in favor of Ireland for it's effect here
 The organization to be employed was rot named in the message and Mir. Lansing did not discuss it's identity. It was freely suggested among other off cials, however, that it was one of the various societies which flooded mem- bers of the house and senate with peace messages when President Wilson was asking that a state of war be recoG niZed.
 This disclosure adds another chapter to the amazing story begun with pub .ication of the famous Zimmermanu note, in which Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico and Japan against the United States, and which has ln- cluded the German Swedish breaches of neutrality in Argentine and Mexico. It connects the German government and Count von Bernstorff directly and con ial1r ha American public had assumed was a part of the world wide Teuton intrigue, but which many people firmly believed were carried on or financed in this | country by German Americans without actual authority from Berlin. | Little surprise was occasioned either | in official circles or at the capitol, al | though members of congress were | highly indignant There was some talk 1 gation. and Senator Overman, chair l man Of the senate lobby committee and 1 Representative Flood chairman of the | house foreign affairs committee. ar | ranged to go to the state department tomorrow for further information. l On the floor of the house, Represen- | tative Heflin of Alabama asserted that
 he could name thirteen or fourteen | members of the two branches of con- S expressed the opinion that they should be investigated. Generally. however. | the disposition was to regard as absurd
 any suggestion that any part of the
 $50,000 sought by von Bernstorff was
 intended for members of congress The von Bernstorff message, dated ! January 9. follows:
 | T request authority to pay out up | to S50.000 (fifty thousand) dollars in
 order as on former occasions to influ-
 ence congerss, through the organiza-
 ton you know of, which can perhaps prevent war.
 T am beginning in the meantime to act accordingly.
 | In the above circumstances, a public
 official German declaration in favor of
 Ireland is highly desirable, in order to
 gain the support of Irish influence
 here
 This message was sent nine days be-
 fore the German government pro claimed it's unrestricted submarine
 warfare. When he wrote it. Count
 von Bernstorff was assuring the
 American government and press that
 under no circumstances would Ger many violate her pledge of the Sussex
 case or do anything that might draw the United States into the list of her enemies With the Lusitania and other cases in abeyance, the American
 government had made no move since , the Sussex pledge and there was noth- (Continued on Page Two)