The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-09-27

Storff was an Irish institution. and
from the remarks of officials il was
gathered that the instrument used by
the German government wa- one of
several peace societies which, masking
under the name of peace" have &C
tually served the interests OF He cen
trail empires, and are still motiVated
by consideration of hostility to the
policies of the United States.
A sensational feature of the Bern
storf note WAS that 1t was dated Jan
uary 90, the date of President Wilson $
peace without victory" address to con
gress.
Prior to that time, however, in the
latter part OF December, Secretary
Lansing, in interpreting President VIII
sons peace note. made II clear that
the United States might be drawn into
the war, and indicated that one OF the
reasons impelling President Wilson TO
address the powers AT war was tc
ascertain the objects for which they
were fighting, so that this country. II
1t should be compelled to make de
cisiou, might better be prepared To
align itself with one OF the two groups,
1t is accepted that neither in De
cember nor in January was the state
department aware of the full connee-
ton of Ambassador Won BernStorH
with the works of Captain Boyd ana
Captain Won Papen. the naval and mill
tary attaches, respectively. OF the Ger
man embassy. but it is believed now
that the government has complete
proof of the direction by Count Won
Bernstorn himself OF all the activities
of German agents. official and unofh-
cial, of German nationality and OF
American nationality
Whether the state department is IN
possession OF other evidence indicating
the ambassadors activities has not
been revealed. but the extraordinary
disclosures already made have nNea
the belief that agents Of the United
States government have collected and
compiled the entire story OF German
duplicity and intrigue and that add
tional chapters will he added.
Knew Plan Of "Ruthlessness."
The reference To averting war Is tax
en- as nm indication thai Ambassador
BernStorf had prior kno"lede" ol ms
governments intention t. proclaim 1t
mercHe>s widespread submarine var
fare and that he WIS equally confident
that the United States government
could net BE- easily plaeated by mere
promises. The German announcement
of lis intention 10 expand its submit
rine activities was uot made public I'M
til January n, when thc world "aS
startled not only by III determination
to remove all restrictions but hA the
statement that II would become cff"5-
tive Oh the following day. Three daHs
later the United States government
had expressed its diSapproNal lay sever
Ing relations with Germany.
That the German ambassador Knew
of his governments intention Was as
sumed by some officials although nj
the same time he druied prior knoWl-
edge and those in close touch with me
embassy were given To understand that
he did not approve the course ana
worked to obtain modification
Small Amount for sribe.
II has not been assumed that the am
hasSador actually attempted To hrthe
or personally influence any member "f
congress, and doubt that such was ms
purpose is supported To some extent by
the comparatively small amount al
money he asked Fifty thousand dol
lars. II was pointed out, would go but n
short way toward buying the Influence
OF any congressman. JnhieiouSly sX-
pended. however. II might do much In
compenSating paid agents. such ns are
now known to have belonged To the
elaborate machine BernstorN had SCI
carefully built up for the production
OF propaganda and for purposes OF
espionage.
Search Anti-War List.
AS soon as news OF the RernStorn
message reached the capitol mcmher'