Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-03

CONTINUED from Page H.
United States was the aggressor, but
also because OF reports reaching the
German government that the United
States had made similar attempts "a
array other countries against the Ger
man empire.
/ Il fail TO see how such a plot" is
inspired by unfriendliness ON our
part declared Foreign Secretary
Zimmerman. 1T would mean nothing
but that we would use means univers.
ally admitted in war in case that the
United States declared war"
He added, pointedly, that such n
move would be only Il purely defens-
i've and precautionary measure by
Germany and that the so-called plot
would fall thru, if the United States
did not herself take the aggressive.
Secretary Zimmerman based his
charge that the United States had at
tempted to line up other neutrals
against Germany ON statement made
in the Argentine newspaper, La Prem
/ sa. La Prensa, he said, charged that
+ the United States last year suggested
common action against Germany, to
the South American republics.
/ He further quoted from remarks by
+ Edward Price, an American newspa-
peiman, to the effect that the United
States was remaining neutral only be.
canse she could further the interests
OF the Allies better by remaining neu.
I trial than by declaring war. Other cir
cumstances, he said had confirmed
this belief in Germany.
The most important part of the al
legged plot is its conditions and FORM
the whole plot falls fiat to the
ground in case the United States does
not declare war against us. and if We
really, as the report alleges, consid
cred the possibility Of hostile act Of
the United States
An Argentine newspaper printed
short while ago really revealed the
plot when telling that the United
States last year suggested to other
American republics common action
against Germany and her allies. This
plot apparently was not conditional
in the least. The news was published
by Prensa well agrees with the inter
probation given for instance by the
American newspaperman Edward
Price in Berlin and London, who said
that the United States only waited for
the proper moment in order to assist
the Entente opportunity. The same
American stated that Americans from
the beginning of the war really part-
cipated in it by putting the immense
resources of the United States to the
Entente's disposal and that Americans
had not declared war only because
they felt sure that assistance by
friendly neutrality would be during
that time much more efficient for the
Entente than direct participation in
tie war .kt
Whether this American newspaper
man reported the facts exactly we
were at a loss to Judge in satisfactory
fashion since we were more or less
completely cut off from real commune
cation with the United States But
there were other facts which seemed
TO confirm this and similar assurance
Everybody knows these facts and |
need not repeat them.
"1he Entente propaganda services
have sufficiently heralded all these
demonstrations in the
United States and if you like (appa,
emily the word take was meant
will. the actual attitude of the United
States, then it is obvious that the con
sheraton was not frivolous OIL our
part what defensive measures we
should take were we attacked by he
United States
The semonicial German News
Agency according to the Amsterdam
reports carried to newspapers turnout
Germany statement frankly admit
ting Germanys part in the affair. The
German government, it was stated,
hostilties by the United
summarizing were resumed. and pre-
pared for such an eventually by iSsu !
ing certain instructions to the German .
at Mexico City These In. .
were sent in the middle Of .
January after the decision for unre. .
stricted submarine warfare was made. /
The German minister was told that Ii 7
the United States declared war, he
should at once offer an alliance to the
Mexican government He was ex
pressly instructed the dispatch said,
to take no such action unless certain .
that the United States would declare +
war.
The semioflicial German news /
agency expressed surprise, Amster-
Gam reported, that the information
ha d fallen into the hands of the
American government and charged .
that treechery was committed 'on
German territory
Guard Canal Closely.
Washington, D. G., March 3Dec-
larations from the floor Of the senate .
that congress must meet in extra
session because it may be needed to
declare war en- Germany will not stir
President Wilson from his announced
In niIinn Nirhitn IIn,,n., L, N ninlr o. Ii ~,