The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-22
PLANS To SWAY
CONGRESS- LAID
BernStOrtt Sought to Buy In
tIuenC2 with Gold.
He ASKED FOR $4,000
State Department Exposes Plot of the
Former German Ambassador-Had
Used an Reorganization" Before For
Such Purpose.

Used an Organization" Before For
Such Purpose.
Washington. Sept. Secretary OF
State Lansing made public. as an as.
founding addition 10 the series CT
disclosures covering German inUrigueS
in America and els where. a message
sent by Count Won BnTnstofff in Janu
airy Of this year 70 the Berlin foreign
office.
This message requested authority &c
pay cut $3o,o"9 to influence" con
gress through an unnamed organiza
authorities.
Count Won Be~nstorff Indicated in
his IN $" that money had been paid
this organization on former OGrasiOns
to perform the same work.
The message, dated January 90
1917. fellows:
81 request authority to pay out uT
to 50.000 fifty thousand dollars in
order as cn former or a9ions. 10 in.
fuence CONGRESS- through the organi
cation Won know of. which can, per
haps. prevent war.
81 am ha"'rning in the meantime
to act accordingly.
an tAe above circumstances a pub.
lie Official German declaration in IA
vor Of ireland is highly desirable, il
order . gain the support of Irish in
fuencn nee"
Whether the state department. has
other evidence indicating the former
ambassadors activities has not beer
revealed. The extraordinary disclos.
uree already made have fixed the be
lief tN9t agents of the United States
government have objected and com
piled the entire histn"y of German du
plicitv and intrigue. and that addition
al chapters will be added
The reference to avoiding war is
taken rs an Indication that AmbaSsa
de- Won Bernstein nod prior kn W.
edge of his governments intention tC
proclaim a mercilesS widespread sub
marine warfare II is reg rfed a,
showing. also that he was equal!
confident the United St"tes could not
be easily p1aca+ed by mere promises
The German announcement OF its
intention to expand its submarine az
Invites was not made public until
January 21.-The word was startled
not only by the determine ton 70 re
move all restrictions. bur |y the state
ment that it would become effective
, the following day. Three days Later
the United States government had
severed relations.
That the German ambassador knew
of his governments intention is as
sumcd by some officials. At the time
, he denied prior knowledge. Those
in close touch with the embassy were
given to understand that he did mo-
approve the course ard had worked
to obtein a modification.
It has not been assumed that the
ambassador actually attempted tC
hribe or personally influence any mem
Der of congress. Doubt that such was
his purpose is supported 70 some eX
tent by the comparatively small
amount Of money he asked.
Fifty thousand dollars, it was point
gu Otl, "Oulu ~ Il Nilo4 'NS "" 81 l
buying the influence Of any congress
man. JudiciOusly expended. it NIGH
do much in compromising paid agents
Such agents ase known TO have be
longed to the elaborate machine vor
Bernstein so carefully built up tt
1 spread Propaganda and for purposes O
espionage.
The suggestion is made that by or
ganization" the ambassador might
have meant any one of the different
so-called peace societies that were
+ active at that time. That may have
! been true, but it is learned that state
department officials do not know VIVA;
the ambassador did mean.
It is assumed that he referred tt
an organization he had set up, al
though some officials are inclined Il
believe the method OF influencing wa:
the using of pacifists to rake out the
chestnuts. rather than to any direc'
subordinatiOn of congressman.
! At least one active organization
flooded Washington with telegram!
lust before the war and during The
DAYS Immediately following the brea'
/ in relations. Telegraph wires were
congested with hundreds Of kilograms
Mail pouches were filed with lttera
! ture circulated to influence congress
! men to vote against any measure look
ing to war with Germany.
How impartant q role the German
diplomat played behind the scenes II
that instance is net definitely known
. Il always has been assumed that TEA
tonic agents we've largely responsible
/ for the activities tat so embarrasset
I the president. and had the effect o
! supporting the opposition that devel
aped in congress.