New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-22
Influence Used
"As Formerly"
Legislators Will Take
Up Issue To-day;
Peace Societies To
Be Questioned
By Carter Field
Isnr Corrrror dsrrel

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2l.-On Janu-
ary 90, just ten days before ruthless
submarine warfare was resumed by
Germany. Count Won Bernstorf, Ger
man Ambassador and directing head OF
the German propaganda in the United
States. cabled 90 his government re-
quest for permission 20 spend an add
tional s50,O00 "to influence Congress
in the hope of preventing this country
from entering the war.
The text Of this remarkable message
was given out to-day by Secretary OF
State Lansing. IL follows:
The Secretary of State issues the
following message from Ambassador
Won Bernstorff TO the Berlin Foreign
Office, dated January %, 1917:
- request authority 10 pay out u?
TO $4,000 fifty thousand) dollars in
order as on former occasions TO in
fuence Congress through the or
ganization you know of, which can
perhaps prevent war.
81 am beginning in the meantime
TO act accordingly.
"In the above circumstances
public official German declaration in
! favor of Ireland Is highly desirable,
in order to gain the support of Irish
! influence here"
! As result of to-dsy's expose, mem
| bers and officers of all the orgsnIzs-
tions which have spread pro-Germsn,
pro- peace, pro-armS embargo and anti
British blockade propaganda probably
will be summoned TO testify before
Congressional committees as 10 the
source of the money which paid for the
hundreds of thousands of kilograms
sent to members Of both houses.
Laying Investigation Plans
In the Senate, Chairman Oyermsn OF
the Lobby Committee is already laying
plans for an investigation, and is find
ing much support. Only few members
Of either house actually believe that
any member of Congress has taken Ger
man money for his activities, no mat
ter how great those activities may have
aided the German cause.
Mostly the members who have been
styled pro German are believed 10 have
mistaken the wave Of mail and tele-
graphic propaganda for public sentI-
ment, and to have played safe pohti-
cally, as they thought, by yielding
to it.
After Senator La Folette's leader
ship of the fight which talked the
armed neutrality bill to death At noon
on March T.. he boasted that he had
received $4,000 kilograms, nearly all
Of which congratulated him on his
fight. His boasts of this mass of con
gratulatory messages had obvious ef-
fects on some of his colleagues.
SO generally had the belief spread in
both houses of Congress, however, that
the mass Of kilograms was paid for By
pro-Germsn sources. that little surprise
was caused to-day by the proof Of this
submitted BY Secretary Lansing.
Eager for Investigation
The idea of an investigation, how
ever, which would force the officers OF
these numerous peace societies on the
stand, and make them explain the
sources of the money which paid their
expenses, took hold Immediately.
While most members of Congress
contented themselves with saying they
had suspected it all along, and that
they were glad the Secretary could con
vince the people OF this country Just
how despicably the German Embassy
had violated American neutrality, some
were more personal in their reflections
on their colleagues.
Representative Howard, Of Georgia,
SAID he could lay his finger on the men
IN Congress who had taken money. lie
declined 70 name them, for publication.
bu. left little doubt as to who he
meant.
Representative Hefin. Of Alabama
said he knew Of gambling games IN
Washington, az which members Of Con
gresS who lad agitated for everything
Germany wanted found that their luck
was always excellent.
How long the State Department ha,
had this information was field for
much speculation to-day. The Secre-
I tary declined 10 state. Soon after Boy
I'd and Won Papen received their pass
ports, there was much complaint by
certain government officials that
enough evidence had been submitted 10
the State Department 70 warrant il in
demanding Won BernStorff's recall, but
that the department declined to act. IL
was open gossip that the department