Evening journal., 1917-03-05
The Mexican Plot and Our Congress


II was obviously with the purpose
OF impressing Congress with the gray
lily OF the information in possession
OF the President, and therefore affect
Ing its action upon the demand for
unlimited authority, that Mr.. Wilson
gave to the public the details OF the
attempted intrigue of Germany with
Mexico, and the effort to entangle
Japan in IT,
10 appears that the President came
into possession Of this document sub
sequent TO Count Won BernEtorn's dis
missal. He held II in secrecy until
Chancellor Won Bethmann-H ollweg
complained that the United States
had "brusquely' broken with a Power
that had cherished friendly relations
> with this nation 40 IAN heirloom
from Frederick the Great" But
more. This astonishing proposal OF
Germany 10 dismember the United
States and turn over a strip OF her
most prosperous commonwealth to
Mexico came TO Mr.. Wilson's hand
at the very moment when the Admin
istration was most IN need Of assist
ance In its effort TO obtain the in
dorsement OF Congress for its plan
TO protect American rights against
German aggression. When speculation
was being INDUCED in as TO whether
Germany would commit an overt act,
at the exact instant when the country
was awaiting the Presidents reaction
TO that overt act, this proposition
was disclosed to him for his in
structlon and the enlightenment OF all
who were In doubt as 60 the purpose
Of the Imperial Government toward
the United States If the President
retained any sympathy. with the pa
ciflst point OF view this must have dis
sipated IL and convinced him of Ger
many's secret but fixed determination
But the purpose and time of the
exposure are not so important as the
facts. The story Of the plot is so de-
finite its feasibility from the Ger
man point of view, SO apparent that II
carries conviction Mexico already I'm
virtual intermitten war with the Uni
ted states. was selected as the cats
paw. With German credit put at her
command, with German drill masters
and tactlcians TO bring discipline and
military science TO hor armies as they
Join the lSaiscrs Government I'm a
declaration OF war upon the United
States. Coincldently her diplomats
we're to sound Japan "suggesting,' as
Count Zimmerman, German Foreign
Minister, blandly expressed II. "ad-
herence TO this plan" Furthermore.
Mexico was to offer TO mediate be-
tween Germany and Japan" The mere
suggestion indicates that Germany
would welcome and expedite the me-
diation that would detach Japan from
her present allies.
Mexico's reward was 10 be the op-
Iortunity ito reconqner the lost ter
ritory in New Mexico. Texas and Ari-
imagination--wh which In our Pacific
coast States is already quite equal to
supplying the most terrifying sequel
TO the proposed new alliance.
But Japan. through every diplo-
matte and official agency which to
the present moment it has been posi-
BILE TO reach, has vigorously. indig-
nantly and convincingly repudiatet
any share In this typical German in
trigue. IL is indeed necessary to The
national honor OF people exceeding
ly tenacious of that point that it spur
the suggestion that it should be falsl
10 its alliance with the Entente Allle
in order to take part in a raid upof
the United States fomented and led b.
one Of the Mikado's most bitter enc
mics. We do not overlook tho fac
that national sentiment and action arr
as rule determined by selfish rattle
that sentimental or ethical reasonl
when we pronounce Il incredible thai