The sun., 1917-09-22
Ambassador Asked German
Foreign Office for Funds
to Sway Congress.
Special Despdtch to THE SrS.

Special Despdtch TO THE SrN.
WAsHINGroN, Sept, 2l-LThe extent to
which German intrigue and duplicity
were being practised In this country
under the master hand OF Count Johann
Won BernstorfI in the days preceding
this nations entrance into the war was
revealed to-day when the State Depart
ment produced from its mysterious
sheaf of intercepted communications a
secret message sent by the former Ger
man Ambassador to the Berlin Foreign
Onice on January 20, 1917. proposing
that $4,000 be spent at once to in
fiuence the American Congress,
This money was to he expended
through an organization which. as the
message shows. had been made use OF
on other occasions by the German
propagandists and which presumably
had been organized by Won Bernstorfl
or was entirely subservient to German
interests at that time.
This is the message made public to.
day by Secretary Lansing as havins
passed between the former German Am.
bassador and the Berlin authorities or
the very day that President Wilson
made his famous peace without VIC
tory" address to the Senate:
request authority to pay out up to
$4,000 (ffty Thousand dollars) In
order, as on former occasions, to in
huence Congress through the organi-
Zation YOU know of, which can perhaps
prevent war
am beginning in the meantime to
! act accordingly.
In the above circumstance a public
official German declaration in favor OF
! Ireland is highly desirable in order to
gain the support Of Irish influence
here.
Expose AatOunds Warrington.
! In making public this message, whicl
| has shaken the Capitol TO its foundation
| and is likely at once to lead to an In
vestigation, Secretary Lansing Is know,
| to have been actuated by a desire to pre-
sent in its true light the present Germa
| effort to create a peace sentiment in thi
! country and so thwart the country
preparation for throwing its entire re
/ sources into the scale to crush Germany
! To state Department officials Germany
motives in this respect are perfect.
! transparent and strictly in accord wit
! the principles il has followed all alon
! in seeking to divide sentiment In thi
country.
The Bernstorf message was given ou
! without comment by Mr.. Lansing. ~
deep significance at this time at ono
= was appreciated however. and 1t created
a sensation at once in diplomatic ant
! Congressional circles. Entente diplo
mats quickly discerned in 1t more den
mite proof than they had expected
Germany's policy Of using peace propa
! ganda as war measure 10 weaken ne
/ enemies.
| Confirming suspicious that have pre-
! vailed for long time, that German
! money had been behind many OF tn
moves made to thwart legislation mimi
! cal to Germanys interests, the Bern
! storff telegram had the effect of bomb
shell at the Capitol.
Bribery suggestion Repudinted.
! Rut both Senators and Representa-
tlyes were for the most part quick l
repudiate the suggestion that actua
bribery had been resorted TO and wer
! inclined to accept the view mar
merely offered a possible explanation O
the flood of kilograms and other com
| m,iuications which had been receive
BY members of Congress In protes
against the United States going to wal
! With the organization referred to 1
the telegram still unidentified, suspicio
rests on several societies whose activitte
both at that time and on several prio
occa sions were notorious, There is
feeling. too, among many at the Capttt
That unless an inquiry is Instituted sus
picion cannot be entirely removed fror
some of those In Congress at that tim'
There was reference to this lnJecte
in the debate In the House this after
noon by Representative Helm of Ala
bama. who went so far as 10 hint ths
thirteen OF fourteen men In tho tw
houses had, in his opinion, acted in
suspicious fashion
/. If the State Department wishes fo
an investigation Chairman Flood {
the Foreign Affairs Committee of III
House probably will introduce the resa
luton calling for the appointment OF
committee for that purpose, Mr.. f1oo
is to have a talk with Secretary LaI
sing tomorrow morning and much wi
depend on this interview. The Sena'
, also will walt until the wishes OF Il
, State Department are ascertained in II
matter.
Recalls War Referendum Deman
1t was recalled upon the publicatiC
OF this message that following the a
nouncement OF Germany's programn
for ruthless submarine warfare. OF whiC
. Count Won Bernstorf was undoubted
cognizant at the time this message W;
, sent, campaign Immediately W;
launched for the purpose Of securir
, a referendum vote on the question
Z this effect were introduced IN both Il
4 Senate and the House.
, Not only the legislators but the Pres
. dent was bombarded by kilograms ur
. ing that this question be submitted
the people, the suggestion beng plain
: conveyed that such a referendum wou
; show that the nation was plainly aga IN
going TO war despite the submarine ou
RACES.
There also followed the fillbust
against the Presidents armed ship b
1 which succeeded In defeating that mea
a ure. That the web OF Germanys |
: trigue manipulated from Washingt'
2 covered the country at that time al
: was behind some Of the extraordina
1 moves that We're made In seeking
. keep this country out OF the war
now pretty definitely established as
I result Of the disclosures.
= That the present series OF revelatio
e has not come to an end Is also certa
: There was plain hint to-day tn
I others which are likely to reveal I
activities Of we'll known persons in I
= interests OF Germany would follS
t quickly. With nothing TO show as )
d what the Pandora's box at the Sta
Cowttwxsd ,ew ssooWd Pass.