Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-21
BERNSTORFFS HAND SHOWN
IN PLOT IN CONGRESS-
Continued from Pase One

Continued from PaGe One
fore he sent his message Bernstorff knew
| through a secret channel" that his Govern
ment planned unrestricted summarizing and
clearly foresaw the break with the United
States. Therefore. Germany was trying to
render America mpotent by keeping her
busy with Mexican troubles and influencing
paciflst Congressman to prevent war
This revelation on the heels Of the Swed-
sh-German-Argentlna Mexican Philippine
exposure and coupled with the thinner
mann Mexican-Japanese plot note cllnches
this Governments contention that Germany
carried on active plottings and propaganda
all over the world
FIRST POSITIVE PROOF
This startling message however was the
first positive evidence made public that
Bernstorff had personal guilty knowledge
Of the German intrigue I'm this nation.
1t had long been suspected that he was
the directing head OF antiAmerican work
and this Government had proved that his
colleague the Austrian Ambassador, was
conducting a vicious plot while the two
countries we're still at peace
Bernstorff's advice concerning Ireland
was apparently needed. for in one of her
pc ice pronunciamentos Germany made mach
Of the fact that she was for home rule in
Ireland and in India.
The Bernstorff note shows clearly that
the envoy had been intriguing for some
time because II pointed out that the money
would be paid out "as on former occa.
sions."
The date of the communication was at
the time when Germany and the United
states were directly on the verge of break
ing relations. and less than ten days later
the Teutons put into effect their decree TO
sink ships without warming
1t is significant also that during this
aNtf 4AH Dr.
press that he would do all in his power to
prevent war between Germany and the
United states. And he continued to say
even after the break that he would use his
inhuen2e upon reaching Berlin to avoid
actual hostilities He was known to be
sending messages to his home government
at that time. endeavoring 10 straighten
out the tangled relations Of the two coun.
tries.
Bernstorff, while protesting to feel kindly
toward America, wished to avoid war sim
ply for the reason that American strength
would turn the balance against Germany,
authorities say
The link between Germany and the Irish
Americans has been known rather clearly
to this Government for some time and the
Sir Roger Easement affair showed rather
conclusively that Germany was seeking
Irish-American sympathes or trying to
create trouble for England through home
rule for Ireland.
DETAILS WITHHELD
The State Department did not announce
the name Of the organization which was TO
handle the $4,000, although probably in
vestigation has given the Government line
on it's identity.
Just how the message came into the Amer
lean Governments possession is kept a
secret, as in the case with all documents
proving Germany's guilt
1t is officially admitted that for more
than a year before breaking of relations,
the Department Of Justice had enough evil
dence OF Bernstorff's improper activities
in this country to warrant the State De-
partment in handing him his passports and
brusquely demanding his precipitate depart
ure
Bernstorff knew of and assisted in plot
ting the proposed invasion of Canada the
attempt to blow up the Welland canal,
the du Pont dynamite plots. other munitions
plan intrigues, the fomentng of strikes, the
spying of Wolf and Igel and a score Of
other offenses, some of which have never
been publicly mentioned by the Govern.
ment.
The American Government held off an
exposure of Bernstorff until actual war
time, because of the recurring hope that
conditions would improve.
The systematic revelation of Teuton in
trigue on this continent and elsewhere is
deemed likely to have the effect of not only |
stirring UP the United States to it's danger |
but also further convincing the German peo-
pie that their Government is a sinister |
menace.
News of the State Departments latest