Evening journal., 1917-03-05

! Japan could have had any share in
this intrigue, and insist that the de-
malls OF her spokesman are entitled TO
entire and confident acceptance.
But It is notable that no denial has
yet come from Mexico. We may con-
cede the charitable excuse that UNI
settled conditions in that country
make # impossible for official eNpla-
nations to be swiftly obtainable. But
host Of recent incidents tend TO cor
roborate the opinion that the Govern
ment Of Carranza lent favorable ear
to certain German Overtures. Car
ranza's recent suggestion Of striking
at England by shutting off the export
OF food, and especially oil, from Mex
lean ports, arouse instant suspicion
when It was put forth. The activities
Of Captain Boy-Ed and Captain Won
Papen in Mexico and Latin American
countries stimulated the curiosity Of
our secret service a year or more ago.
German backing of Huerta, in his fl
nal and futile effort to return 10 his
country as a conquerOr, was matter OF
notoriety.
IL is evident enough that the Mex
lean intrigue was part OF tho activi-
ties Of smiling Won Bernstorff in the
last days OF his diplomatic service at
Washington, which should have been
terminated by this Government
months earlier. A genial plotter
against his friends was this advance
agent OF Kultur Retraying with a
smile, he needed only few pounds
more of fat to be the Count FoscO Of
diplomacy The extent OF his legacy
I'm the United States we have yet to
learn When he quit London 10 be-
stow his diplomatic light upon Wash
ineton he left behind him that SIMS
Ter organization of German spies
which az the opening OF the war sud
denly revealed itself to the astounded
English. Every hotel, restaurant and
club had been made telephone TO
the ear Of Wilhelmstrasse. The Brit
aims tailor. valet. chauffeur and IA
vorite waiter were In the pay Of the
German secret service. Even that
typically British institution the Gaiety
chorus gave up evidences Of being
lured from loyalty by German gold.
Tho Imagination OF Mr.. r.. Phillips
Oppenhelm was outdone In the crea-
ton Of spies by the genius OF the
Count Won BernstOrff
How far he pursued the same avo-
cation here the people have yet to
learn. though our Government Is not
without information on the subject.
] How deeply he, the Ambassador to a
friendly Power was involved I'm a
plot TO rend that country into frag-
ments is yet 10 be shown But Il is
probable that the same astuteness
which led the German Foreign Office
TO select the organizer Of the German
SPY system I'm London to be German
Ambassador to Washington was man
ifosted when they picked his closest
associate and Secretary or Embassy,
the Baron Won Schoen, to go to Mex
leo, where the plot exposed IN the
newspapers is in process Of perfec-
! ton
Tho exposure Of this plot by the
Administration was wisely done. II
is well that the people, sorely befog-
! ged and bedevillod BY pacinst pests
should be given to understand clear
" by what menacing conditions thi.
nation Is environed. But out OF thi
revelation springs no added reason
for the gift by Congress Of unlimite,
authority to the President. or the sur
render Of any Of its rights. Rathe
II suggests. unless at a stroke we de
molish all belief i'm the efficiency an,
righteousness Of Democratic Govern
ment, that the Congress be kept n
continuous session ready to discharge
its constitutional functions Of advis
ing with the President and declaring
war when the supreme act becomes
necessary.