The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-22
Wanted Authority to Pay Out
$4,000, nAs On Former Oc-
casions,H to Prevent War.
AMAZING REVELATION
OF TEUTON DUPLICITY
Tells Emperor Money to Be
Spent Through 'Organiza-
ton You Know Of Lam
sing Has Goods ON Willy
German Diplomat

Washington, Sept. 2i.--The revela-
ton that Count Won Bernstorr, trusted
adviser of Emperor William and at
present ambassador to Turkey, headed
the German propaganda OF bribery
that sought to keep this country out
of war when Germany entered upon
her ruthless campaign Of submarine
warfare exploded like shrapnel IN
Washington today. Diplomats, con-
gressmen. officials and various propa-
candists were amazed. Congress I'M
mediately began TO talk of an !nvesti-
gation-two Investigations.
Secretary of State Lansing gave out
letter of Bernstorff In which the
ambassador asked the kaiser for sso,-
600 to Influence congress"
1t seemed certain here today that
the Bernstorn communication was
forwarded through a neutral gov
erament. The state department re-
fused 10 confirm this or to indicate
whether it's suspicious were directed TO
any neutral source.
Who Compose the society"
The mystery of the society which
Bsrnstorff was to use has Washing
ton awake from enc cad or PennsSl-
vania avenue to the other. The names
mentioned in connection with the Ger
man activities in propaganda are al
ready we'll known, They lncIuds
names Of scores of individuals whose
records have been locked up by the
| de psa RI rrsant OF Justice and Il whose
strange activities have been the basis
Of more than one quiet secret service
Investigation.
Opinions here seemed general that
when Secretary Lansing made punic
this startling Bernstorff document he
a.. SG an ~
storT, but on his connections in the
BernstorfY's Amazing Request.
Secretary Lansing made his start
ling revelation today in the briefest
but most significant chapter of Ger
man intrigue the state department has
vet disclosed. His statement follows.
1.-THE secretary OF state issues
the following message from AM
hassador Bernstorn TO the Ber-
lin foreign office. dated january
20, 1917:
M $4,000 (fifty thousand dol
Iars) in order, as ON former oc-
casions. to influence congress
through the. organization you
know of. which can perhaps pre-
vent war.
II am beginning In the mean
time to act accordingly.
I'm the above circumstance
public ofFscial German declara-
lion In favor OF Ireland Is highly
desira bile I'm order 10 gain the sup
port of Irish influence here"
Message Was Delivered.
This message was sent to this
kaiser through the Berlin foreign
office just prior to the beginning Of
fGermanv's undersea campaign. Secs
rotary Lansing said the governments
had proof that the message was de-
livered This communication not only
reveals Ambassador Bernstorff'S
standing forth for the first time as the
actual directing head of bribery
propa ganda, but exposes the efforts
of Germany to use this country as a
buffer while Teuton ruthlessness was
employing its most effective measures.
While Count Won Bernstorff had
been eexposed early in the year as
passing a note from Foreign Minister
Zimmerman TO Count Won Eckhardt
in Mexico City to drag Japan and
Mexico into a war with this country.
the German representative had not
been shown to have any direction of
the payment of money to finance In
trigues or as being the real head.
Today he Is set up as a shining ex-
ample OF German duplictty, indicating
his willingness to commit bribery
while at the same time protesting
the most friendly relations with this
country.
Master Mind of German Duplicity.
Just what organization Count Won
Bernstorff intended to use to pass his
$50, 900 to congress is a matter Of con-
lecture. Nor Is there any explanation
of what the ambassador meant by ION
former occasions" But officials ofthe
state department and men In diplo-
matte circles plainly see the working
OF the German master mind behind
the ambassadors message of duplic-
tty
When the note was sent Great 2ri-
tain was crying for food. she was
crying for ships. she was crying for
ammunition. France was in the same
position. Italy was sending to this
country delegation to impress the
imperative necessity of ships, coal ana
supplies for her army just about ~
enter upon it's greatest offensive. Rus
sia WIS turbulent
German Influence thought II VS.
about to reap its coveted prize at 4
disrupted enemy on the east Tho
Russian armies were reported on tho
point Of revolt and retreat, The peos
pie themselves ware IN i tnSnlA1e
Germany ha1 pushed ~ IN - ~ |,