The Daytona daily news., 1917-03-20

fred Zimmerman, German foreign Sec
retary. to give the impression that the
move to induce Mexico and Japan to
make war upon the United States was
undertaken only recently, and then
simply as a matter of 'self-defense,"
is not borne out by facts which the
New York Herald claims long to have
had in its possession and which now
may be made public. Their publica-
ton also will throw q new light upon
the much criticized persecution Of
Victoriano Huerta by President Will
son. his efforts to depose the Mexican
dictator, his anxiety to bring about
the equalization Of the Panama tolls,
his interest in the purchase Of the
Danish West Indies. his activity in
Haitian affairs, and his ''watchful
waiting" policy under strongest provo
cations from Mexico.
That Germany was plotting early in
1914. six months before the European
war started, to bring on war between
the United States and Mexico and
make that war the beginning OF q
world conflict, is q statement coming
from u war observer, an American.
who is in position to know much Of
what has been back of the diplomatic
last three years.
The New York HeraldS inform
ant makes this revelation now only
because the news of Germany's plot
to induce Mexico and Japan to enter
a war against the United States has
removed whatever diplomatic reasons
there were for secrecy.
Panama Tolls Question.
This observers information is that
President Wilson knew as early as
February 10. 1914. that Germany was
meddling in Mexico and that he had
this in mind when, in his address to
congress on March ). 1914, urging
equal tolls for foreign and American
ships using the Panama canal. he
said:
II ask this of you in support OF the
foreign policy of the administration.
! l shall not know how to deal with
other matters Of even greater delicacy
grant it to me in ungrudging meas
ure."
This was the beginning" says the
Herald's informant. "of whisperings in
Washington's official circles that Ger
many was trying to entangle the INIT
ed States in war with Mexico. Before
the president made this speech he and
, ~ T. 90. "a fAnf
the only Americans who had ths
slightest knowledge, Of Germany az
tivities. and even thcy did not II that
time realize their true significance.
Later. as l Will show further on
President Wilson VAS made fu.i,
cognizant of the extent of Germany
intrigues and knew that the GerInal
government had determined - seiz'
the island of Haiti, 10 establish na
val base at Mole 81. Nicholas - beglf
war with the United States and d.
stroy the Monroe Doctrine. so that
South and Central America might bt
thrown open to German colonization
That was Very clearly begun "t
the evening Of July IS. 1914. ana un
that night Lao not Austria d.
clafed Val on Serbia on The sam
date. thus calling Of Germany AZ
tiyities from this side of The Atlantic
for the time being | Shall speak .
this little later. but now wlli turf
back to Mexico and follow the 8
Quence Of events there.
British Envoys Trip.
"Iuerta had been the facto presi
dent Of Mexico d little more than
year when on February u, 1914. II WA
announced in Washington THAT >
Lionel Car,icn The retiring Brlt.~l
minister to Mexico, was coming Z
Washington ana that Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, the BRUSH aIaba-~a..or. had AZ
ranged Tor hlin t. haNe . Cou.. = Z {.
with President Wilson. This vu- 50
ni,icant tesa5,e Mr Wilson had !
first objected 10 recei<.ns Sir Le1s
because OF iir !altef >hoa y :rl-11
Ship far IIu.fta Pre-laeiT Nu
feeling toward Sir Lionel had bsren.
such That Sir Edward Ggss all II
premier. Alr. Asquith had tried I
smooth out matters II masl..
speeches T. parliament il ~l.oh 81
loyalty If treat Erl,.ln ~u- y. -
70 the United States. Ih~g declare
he Brifi>h government had no,!l!n
but the most frieadly fe.-In- to@ar
ll- United States and that Every 81
was being tah,n ncr4iy ~ slIpss