Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-02

Washington, March l. - President Wilson tonight. in response to the senate's call, laid before that body of- feial information that the United States government is in possession Of evidence which establishes the authen- ticity of the sensational document disclosing how Germany intrigued to ally Mexico and Japan with her to war on this country.
 In response to senate resolution the president transmitted report from Secretary Lansing stating that the evidence has come to the posses sion of the United States within the last week and that the authenticity of Foreign Minister Zimmermann's in- Eckhardt in Mexico City is established as revealed by The Associated Press. The President's Reply.
 The presidents reply to the resolu- ton and Secretary Lansings report are as follows:
 ITO the Senate: In response to the resolution adopted by the senate on March 1, 1917, requesting the president to furnish the senate. if not incompati- ble with the public interest, whatever information he has concerning the note published in the press of this date purporting to have been sent Jan. 10, 1917, by the German secre- tary for foreign affairs to the German minister to Mexico. l transmit here with report by the secretary Of state. which has my approval (Signed(
 WOODROW WILSON" Government in Possession of Note. ''To the President; The resolution adopted by tho United States senate on March 1, 19l7 requesting that that l body be furnished, if not incompatible with public interest, whatever infor- nation you have concerning the note. published in the press of this date. purporting to have been sent Ian. i9, 1917. by the German secretary for forr eign affairs to the German minister to Mexico, l have the honor to state that the government is in possession of evidence which establishes the fact that the note referred to Is authentic and that it is In possession of the gov ernment of the United States and that the evidence was procured by this government during the present week; but that 1t Is in my opinion lncompat- ible with the public interest to send to tho senate at the present time any fur ther information in possession of the government of the United States rel | sttve to the note mentioned in the resolution of tho senate. Respectfully submitted
 CSiEned)
 "RO BERT f.NNSTNG."
 Referred to Foreign Relations.
 The senate without comment order ed the report and letter printed and referred to the foreign relations com mittee.
 Adoption of the resolution asking for the information came at the close of day of solemn debate which reached climax with republican sem ators joining democrats in condemn ing the attitude of Senator Stone, chairman of the foreign relations com- mittee, who declared the story of the plot was given out by the government to affect public opinion and insisted upon asking the president whether the information was received from a rep reGentatiVe of halliparnnf nation
 To Reach Public Opinion.
 Senator Fall, republican, said he did not wonder that the president decided to reach public opinion through the press in view of the attitude of mem bers of the senate who ought to be his advisors.
 The subject came up soon after the senate assembled and engrossed at tention nearly all day in spite of the mass of legislation awaiting action.
 Senators Were Amazed
 Senators on both sides Of the cham Der expressed amazement at the story and declared if it were true the sendte should be informed.
 Senator Swanson, the fourth mem Der of the foreign relations commit tee. democrat, announced that he had been authorized by the president to say that the note from German Foreign Minister Zimmerman to the German minister at Mexico City or ana OuCIlnlnS the plot was substantially correct as published.
 Senator Lodge at once moved that the president be asked to inform the senate whether the Zimmerman note was authentic and to furnish any other information about it not incom- patib1e with the public interest. This was referred to the foreign relations committee. which soon reported 1t fa-- vorably, with minor amendments.
 Chairman Stone. having been voted down by his committee, carried to the floor the fight to learn how the note came into the governments posses sion He insisted that if any of the nations at war had furnished it the senate and the country should know it Fnd proposed an amendment enbody- ing the question.
 Suggestion by Hoke Smith.
 During the long debate Senator Hoke Smith made a suggestion, the impor- tance of which was promptly recog- nized, and which served to overcome the doubts of many senators as to the propFiety of questioning the president in regard to so grave a matter on which he had not seen fit to com rnunfcate voluntarily. The Georgia senator pointed out that for the ex- ecutfve on his own initiative to send