The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-01
Opposition to Granting Wilson
Full Authority Fades.
Republicans Abandon Filibus-
ter Tactics in c. S. Senate.
EXONERATE MEXICO and JAPAN
Neither Suspected of Having
Engaged in German Plot.
President Officially Confirms
Story of Plot as True.

Washington, March Shocked
and amazed by the revelation of Ger
many's attempt to unite Japan and
Mexico to war upon the United States,
congress today forgot its differences
of opinion and began swinging into
line behind the president.
Senate Republicans abandoned their
general filibuster and gave Demo-
cratic leaders assurances of their sup
port to the president in a national
emergency.
In the house without a roll call and
under special provision for it's i'm
mediate consideration. Representa-
tive Floods bill to clothe the presi-
dent with authority to deal with the
German submarine menace by arm
ing ships, was taken up under an
agreement for a vote after three hours
of debate.
Demands Full Authority Sought.
President Wilson, however, will in
sist on being empowered to use
"other instrumentalities" as proposed
in the bill pending in the senate. Full
official confirmation of Germany'S
move, as revealed by the Associated
Press, was given at the White House
state department and on the floor
of the senate. Secretary Lansing in
an official statement made clear that
the United States did not believe Jap
an had knowledge of the scheme or
would take part in it. He also ex-
pressed the confidence of the govern
ment that Mexico would take no part
The japanese embassy in an official
comment declared that under no cir
cumstances would Germany's proposal
be considered by the Toxic govern
ment, reiterated the allegiance of Jap
anese to the entente alliance and re-
affirmed her friendship for the United
States. The magnitude and astound-
| ing character of Germany's proposal
completely overshadowed all other
considerations in the government to-
! day
Reached German Minister in Mexico.
| While withholding discussion of the
sources of the governments informal
ton on the German plot, lest some
ones life be endangered the state de-
partment did admit that it has full
! evidence of the plot, that the thinner
mann note had reached AnbaSSad or
Won Bernstorff here and that it also
! had reached the German minister in
Mexico.
Doubt was expressed that General
CarranZa himself had ever seen the
communication or been informed of
| its contents owing to the fact that the
plot was not actually to take form ex-
cept in the event of actual hostilities
/
many.
Japanese Ambassador Sato was
called to the department yesterday
and told of the information which had
been secured as to the threatened
plot.
While Lansing would not discuss in
any way what Sato had to say about it,
| the fact that he used the statement
quoted above indicated the Japanese
ambassador must have denied any
LODI
sibility of his government being in any
way interested
| This theory is also borne out by the
statement Ambassador Sato made thru
! the press this morning.
Lansing intimated this government
had been working for the past four
months on the case but until recently
| it had been unable to secure conclusive
/ evidence of the plot.
Seek Official Confirmation.
Washington. March Full official
confirmation of Germany's intrigue to
ally Mexico and Japan with her to
make war on the United States as
revealed last night by the Associated
Press, was given today at the White
House, the state department and in
! the senate.
! Secretary Lansing authorized this
! statement: I'VE do not believe that
/ Japan has had any knowledge of this
or that she would consider any propo-
sI.1on made by an enemy"
/ As to Mexico, the secretary said.
we have confidence that Mexico
would not be party to any such
/ agreement in view of the friendly re-
/ latiOns existing between this govern
ment and the defacto government in
/ Mexico"
Washington. March 1.-The com
munication of Germany to Mexico and
Japan: proposing an alliance against
tn United states, as published today
was brought up in the senate when it
convened by Senator Lodge, who in
troduced resolution proposing that
the president inform he senate if the
note Sine Zlmmermann'' is anthem
tic Senator Swanson of Virginia
said he was authorized to state that
it Is substantially correct
Senator swanson informed Senator
Lodge that the Democratic senators
had been authorized by the president
10 state that the account of the Zim-
mer1nann note as revealed by the As
socl3ted Press was substantially cor
rect
La Toilette Would Know More.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin
said he would not object % passage
/ of the Lodge resolution, providing it
was amended to ask the president to
state when the Zimmerman note had
come into possession of the United
States government
Senator Lodge added to his resolu-
ton clause requesting that the SEN
ate be supplied with all other informa-
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