Mexico Missouri message., 1917-10-04

St0rH was an Irish institution, and
from the remarks of officials 1t was
gathered that the instrument used by
the German government was one of
several peace societies which, masking
under the name of "peace," have ac-
tually served the interests Of the cen
tral empires, and are still motivated
by consideration of hostility to the
policies of the United States.
A sensational feature of the Bern
storff note was that 1t was dated jan
uary %, the date of President Wilson's
peace without victory" address to con-
gress.
Prior to that time, however, in the
latter part of December, Secretary
Lansing, in interpreting President Will
sons peace note, made ii clear that
the United States might be drawn into
the war, aud indicated that one Of the
reasons impelllng President Wilson to
address the powers at war Wa to
ascertain the objects for which they
were fighting, so that this country, If
1t should be compelled to make q de-
clsion, might better be prepared to
align itself with one of the two groups.
II is accepted that neither In De
cember nor In January was the state
department aware Of the full connec-
tiOn of Ambassador Won BernstorR
with the works of Captain BOy-Ed and
Captain Won Papen, the naval and mill
tary attaches, respectively, of the Ger
man embassy, but 1t is believed now
that the government has complete
proof Of the direction by Count Won
Bernstorff himself of all the activities
of German agents, official and unotfi-
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 fixed
the belief that agents of the United
States government have collected and
compiled the entire story Of German
dupliclty and intrigue and that addi-
tional chapters will be added.
Knew Plan OF "RuthIessness."
The reference to averting war is TAX
en- as an indication that Ambassador
Bernstorff had prior knowledge Of his
governments intention to proclaim
merciless widespread submarine war
fare and that he was equally confident
that the United States government
could not be easily placated by mere
promises. The German announcement
of its intention to expand its subma-
rine activities was not made public un-
til January 81, when the world was
startled not only by the determination
to remove all restrictions, but by the
statement that 1t would become effec-
tive on the following day. Three days
later the United States government
had expressed It's dlsapproval by sever
ing relations with Germany.
That the German ambassador knew
of his governments intention was as
sumed by some officials, although at
the same time he denied prior RnOwl-
edge and those in close touch with the
embassy were given to understand that
he did not approve the course and
worked to obtain modification.
Small Amount for Bribe.
1t has not been assumed that the am
bassador actually attempted to bribe
or personally influence any member of
congress, and doubt that such was his
purpose is supported to some extent by
the comparatively small amount of
money he asked. Fifty thousand dol
lars, it was pointed out, would go but a
short way toward buying the influence
of any congressman. JudiciOusly ex-
pended, however, it might do much in
compensating paid agents, such as are
now known to have belonged to the
elaborate machine BernstOrff had so
carefully built up for the production
of propaganda and for purposes of
espionage.
Search Anti-War List.
AS soon as news of the BernstorA
message reached the capitol members
began hasty search of the files to find
the names Of the men who voted