Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1917-09-27
DERNSTORFF KNEW
U-DOAT PLAN
When He Asked For Fund--Lansing
Has Proof
SAW THE ZIMMERMANN NOTE
Conclusive Evidence That Ambassador
Was Appraised Of Effort to EmbrOil
Mexico With Us.

German diplomatic stupidity is be-
ing constantly revealed and recently
more such stupidity involved. as
usual, in intrigue and inability 10 un-
derstand an obvious situation. was ex-
| posed by Secretary Lansing yester
day Count Won Bernstorff, the for
mer German Ambassador, who is now
in congenial society in Constatinople,
is again shown in an unfayorable
light
The substance of a statement made
by the Secretary of State was that
uary asked the Imperial Government
at Berlin for $4,000 to influence the
American Congress. he was aware
that Germany was about to resume
ruthless submarine warfare, which he
also knew would bring severance of
relations between Germany and the
United States
His message asking for the $4,000
corruption fund was sent on Jan. %,
1917. Secretary Lansing said that on
or before jan 10 the Ambassador had
read the order from Dr. Zimmerman,
| German Minister for Foreign Affairs,
directing Admiral Won Eckhardt, the
Minister in Mexico, to arrange in al
| lance between the Japanese and Mex
| lean Governments to attack the Uni
| ted States and ALLEVIATE American ter
ritory In that order Won Eckhardt
was informed that on Feb. / Germany
would begin unrestricted submarine
warfare Won Bernstorff knew this
from the zimmerman message, and
he wanted the corruption fund to en-
deavor to stay the inevitable resent
ment of the American Government.
In the case of the Channe liner Sus-
sex President Wilson had served no.
tice on Germany that il any further
instance occurred of the sinking of
merchant vessels by German sub
marines without giving passengers
and crews chance to escape to
places of safety, the United States
would break relations with Germany.
Has Conclusive Evidence.
Secretary Lansing's statement of his
| knowledge that Count Won Bernstorff
knew at least twelve days in advance
that Germany was about to resume
ruthless submarine warfare was
brought out by questions asked by
] newspaper men. His attention was
| called to reports that the State De-
partment had much more material ex-
posing German intrigue, and he was
asked if he would clear up some mis-
understanding as to whether the De-
partment had any evidence to show
that when Won Bernstorff asked the
Berlin Government to permit him to
use $4,000 as fund to influence Con-
gress he was aware that ruthless sub
marine warfare was to be resumed
Mr.. Lansing's answer was in the
affirmative In his statement he said
that the Department of State pos
sesses conclusive evidence" that
Count Won Bernstorff had received the
| Zimmerman telegram of instructions
about the proposed Japanese-Mcxican
alliance against the United States "on
or before January 49, Mr. Lansing
emphasized his statement by calling
attention to the fact that Count Won
Bernstorff was fully advised of his
government intention to have u
boats destroy merchant ships with
out mercy at the time he asked for the
] $4,000 fund Ito influence Congress
sional action in favor of the contin-
ued neutrality of this country The
quoted words are Mr.. Lansing's.
With this new light thrown on Ger
man methods. it is apparent that when
Germany prepared TO resume ruthless
ness at sea, she did so in the ex
pectation that she would be able to
keep the United States out of the war.
Those who knew Count Won Bernstorff
here are not inclined to concede that
he had so badly judged the situation
| that he believed he would be able to
prevent war by bringing $4,000 worth
of influence to bear on the American
Congress. The fact remains, how
ever. that he asked for the money for
that specific purpose and presumably
used it through a propagandist cam
| paign in the vain endeavor to prevent
a break in diplomatic relations.
Secretary Lansing's statement fol-
| lows:
In view of inquiries which have
been made as to whether Count Bern
storff knew of the purpose of his Gov
ernment to renew relentless sub
marine warfare when he sent his mes
sage Of January %, 1917. asking au-
thorization to expend $4,000, can
state that the Department of State
possesses conclusive evidence that on
or before January 10 Count Bernstorff
had received and read the Zimmerman
telegram to Minister Won Eckhardt in
Mexico. which contained the follow
ing
Count Bernstorff was. therefore.
fully advised of the intentions of the
Imperial Government at the time
when he asked for authority of Ber-
lin to employ funds for an organiza-
tion to influence Congressional action
in favor of the continued neutrality
- IL