Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1917-09-27
LANSING D|SC[OsES
BERNsT0RFFS PLOT
PUBLICITY SPOTLIGHT TURNED
ON REVEALING GERMAN
INTRIGUE.
INVESTIGATION BEING URGED
kaiser's Ambassador Asks His Gov.
ernment for $4,000 to Expend In
influencing Americas Congress
Against War.

Washington.-The American gov.
ernments publicity spotlight reveal
Ing German intrigue M neutral lands
turned upon the expenditure OF money
by the Berlin foreign office in an ef-
Tort to influence congress on the eve
OF the ruthless submarine campaign
which drove the United States to war.
Secretary Lansing made public
without comment the text of a mes
sage sent by Count Won Bernstorff to
Berlin last January, asking authority
to use $4,000 to influence congress
through an organization, which the
foreign office was reminded had per-
formed similar services before. To
supplement this move Won Bernstorff
suggested an Official declaration I'm
favor OF Ireland for its effect here.
"PaeIfists" His Tools.
The organization to be employed
was not named. It was freely sug-
gested among other officials, however,
that 1t was one Of the societies which
Hooded members Of congress with
peace messages when President Will
son was asking that a state of war be
recognized.
This disclosure adds another chap
ter to the amazing story begun with
publication OF the famous thinner
man note. 1t connects the German
government and Count VOC Bernstorfr
directly and conclusively with machi.
nations which the American public had
assumed were a part Of the world wide
Teutonfc intrigue. but which many
people firmly believed were carried on
or financed by German-Americans
without actual authority from Berlin.
Little surprise was occasioned either
In official circles or at the capitol. al
though members OF congress were
highly Indignant. There was some
talk at the capitol of demanding an
investigation and Senator Overman,
chairman OF the senate lobby commit
tee, and Representative Flood, chair
man OF the house foreign affairs COM
mittee. arranged to go to the state de-
partment and ask for more informa-
tion.
Acted SuspiciousIy.
On the floor of the house, Represen.
tattye Hefiin of Alebama asserted that
he could name 13 or II members of
the two branches Of congress who had
acted suspiciously and expressed the
opinion that they should be investigat-
ed. Generally. however, the disposi-
tion was to regard as absurd any sug-
gestion that any part OF the $4,000
sought by von Bernstorff was intended
for members OF congress.
The Won Bers. 1rff message, dated
January %. follows:
1 request authority to pay out up to
$50, 900 (fifty thousand dollars), in or
der as on former occasions to influence
congress through the organization you
know OF. which can perhaps prevent
war.
I am beginning in the meantime to
act accordingly.
In the above circumstances a pub
lie official German declaration in fav-
or OF Ireland is highly desirable, in
order to gain the support OF Irish in
fluence here.
Renewed kaiser's Pledges.
This message was sent nine days be-
fore the German government pro-
claimed its unrestricted submarine
warfare. When he wrote 1t Count Won
Bernstorff was assuring the American
government and press that under no
circumstances would Germany violate
her pledges of the Sussex case or do
that might draw the United
States into the list OF her enemies.
The American government had made
no move since the Sussex pledge and
there was nothing on the surface to
foreshadow impending trouble.
Evidence has been accumulated to
prove that the ambassador not only
was cognizant OF, but actually direct
ed. the activities OF Boy-Ed and Won
Papen. the military and naval at
taches. respectively, who were sent
home long before the United States
broke relations with Germany.
More Revelations Coming.
How complete is the evidence OF
German duplicity in possession OF the
government is only conjectural. but
that IL is far more than has been gen.
orally supposed now Is certain 1t was
intimated by officials that the series
OF revelations is now nearly complete.