The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-09-27
BRIBE CONGRESS,
BERNST0RFF AIM
German Ambassadors Plotting
as Revealed by Lansing
Causes Sensation.
TRYING TO HALT WAR VOTE
Names Of Organization Through
Which the Envoy Hoped to Pre-
vent Break With His Govern
ment Not Given.

Notwithstanding extent to which
German intrigue and duplicity was
being practised in this country under
the master hand OF Count Johann Won
Bernstorff in the days preceding this
nations entrance into the war was
revealed when the State Department
produced from its mysterious sheaf
Of intercepted communications a Sc
cret message sent by the former Ger
man Ambassador to the Berlin For
eign Office on January %, 1917, pro-
posing that $4,000 be spent at once
to influence the American Congress.
This money was to be 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 made use of on other occa-
sions by the German propagandists
and which presumably had been or
ganized by Won Bernstorff or was
entirely subservient to German inter
ests at that time.
hAo 10 AAAC AiNSod6G
by Secretary Lansing as having
passed between the former German
Ambassador and the Berlin author
tiles on the very day that President
Wilson made his famous peace with
out victory" address to the Senate:
] request authority to pay out up to
$4,000 (fifty thousand doIlars) in
order, as on former occasions, to in
fIuence Congress through the organi-
zation you know of, which can per-
haps prevent war.
I 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 Astounds Washington.
In making public this message,
which has shaken the Capitol to it's
foundation and is likely at once 10
lead to an investigation. Secretary
Lansing is known to have been actu-
ated by a desire to present in it's true
light the present German effort to Gre
ate a peace sentiment in this country
and so thwart the country's prepara-
tion for throwing it's entire resources
into the scale to crush Germany.
To State Department officials Ger.
many's motives in this respect are
perfectly transparent and strictly in
accord with the PRINCIPLES It has fol-
lowed all along in seeking to divide
sentiment in this country.
The Bernstorff message was given
out without comment by Mr.. Lansing.
It's deep significance at this time at
once was appreciated. however. and
It created sensation at once in
diplomatic and Congressional circles
Entente diplomats quickly discerned
in IL more definite proof than they
had expected Of Germany's policy of
using peace propaganda as a war
measure 10 weaken her enemies.
Confirming suspicious that have
prevailed for long time. that German
money had been behind many of the
moves made to thwart LEGISLATION
inimical to Germany's interests the
Bernstorff telegram had the effect OF
a bombshell at the Capitol
But both Senators and Representa-
tives were for the most part quick to
repudiate the suggestion that actual
bribery had been resorted 20 and we're
inclined to accept the view that IT
merely offered n possible explanation
of the food OF teleErams and other
anti-war communications which had
been received by members Of Congress.