The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-09-28


1 Washington, Sept 22.-The Ameri-
can governments publicity spotlight
revealing German intrigue in neutral
lands has turned upon the expenditure
of money by the Berlin foreign office
in an effort to influence congress on
the eve of the ruthless submarine CAM
paign which drove the United States
| to war.
Secretary Lansing made public with
out comment the text of message
sent by Count Won Bernstorff to Ber-
lin last January asking authority to
use $4,000 to influence congress
through an organization which the for
eign office was reminded had perform
ed similar service before. To supple
ment this move, Won Bernstorff sug-
gested an official declaration in favor
of Ireland, for its effect here.
The organization to be employed was
not named in the message and Mr..
Lansing did not discuss its identity. 1t
was freely suggested among other Of
ficials, however, that it was one of the
various societies which flooded men,
bers of the house and senate with
peace messages when President Will
son was asking that state of war be
recognized.
The disclosure adds another chap
ter to the amazing story begun with
publication of the famous Zimmerman
note in which Germany proposed an
alliance with Mexico and Japan
against the United States and which
has included the German-Swedish
breaches of neutrality in Argentina
and Mexico. 1t connects the German
government and Count Won Bernstorff
directly and conclusively with MAJ
chinations which the American publidS
has assumed was a part of the world '
wide Teutonic intrigue but which many
people firmly believed was carried on
or financed in this country by German
Americans without actual authority
from Berlin.
Little surprise was occasioned either
in official circles or at The capital, al
though members of congress were
highly indignant. There was some
talk at the capital of demanding an in
vestigation and Senator Overman,
chairman of the senate lobby commit
tee and Representative Flood, chair
man of the house committee on for
eign affairs, arranged to go to the
state department and ask for further
information.
On the floor of the house Represen-
tative Heflin of Alabama asserted that
he could name 13 or IA members of
the two branches of congress who had
acted suspiciously and expressed the
opinion that they should he investigat-
ed. Generally, however, the DISPOSE
ten was to regard as absurd any sug-
gestion that any part of the $4,000
sought by Won Bernstorff was intended
for members of congress.
The Won Bernstorff message, dated
Jan. o. 1915, follows:
Il request authority to pay out up to
$4,000, (fifty thousand dollars) in
order, as on former occasions, to in
fluence congress through the organiza-
ton of which you know, which can
perhaps prevent war.
Il am beginning in the meantime to
act accordingly.
in the above circumstances a pub
lie official German declaration in favor
Of Ireland is highly desirable in order
to gain the support of Irish influence
here"
This message was sent nine days be-
fore the German government proclaim
ed its unrestricted Submarine warfare.
When he wrote 1t Count Won Bernstorff
was assuring the American govern
nent and press that under no circum-
stances would Germany violate her
pledges of the Sussex case or do any
hing that might draw the United
States into the list of her enemies.
With the Lusitania and other cases in
abeyance the American government
had made no move since the Sussex
pledge and there was nothing on the
surface to foreshadow impending
.rouble
Two weeks later when Won Bern
'torff was handed his passports he
,rofessed ignorance of prior knowl-
,dge of his governments intentions
o throw its promises to the winds.
Evidence has been accommodating to
prove that the ambassador not only
vas cognixant of, but actually directed
be activities Of Boy Ed and Won Papen.