The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-09-27
Plan 10 Use Money to Influence
Congress on War Arouses
Legislators.
BERNSTORfF Seen UNMASKED
Disclosures Made by Secretary OF
State Lansing Regarded as Show
inc Ambassador Directed Ger
man Intrigue.

WaShtHgkon.-C convincing PROOF lHat
German diplomatic agents III the
United States violated all rules OF IN
ternatisnai courtesy and conspired TO
influence congress by the use OF money
TO prevent shis country from going 10
war to defend itself from the attacks
of the German government is seen IN
the publication by Secretary of State
Lansing of note from Count Won
Bernstorft, termer German ambassador
to the Umse& States, asking for author
ity to eXpena sou, 900 for the purpose
of influencing congress.
The publication of this note was a
greater bomb shell than any OF the 9th
er revelations of German duplicity that
have been made by the state depart
ment. Neutral diplomats. members OF
congress and others were literally AS
founded by the disclosures. 1t has
been DO secret that the German dlplo-
matte representatives ia the United
States conspired in various ways TO
prevent tins country from entering the
war ON ei,e side of the allies but the
proof that German money was used or
was to be used for the specific pur-
pose of influencing congress furnished
AN amazing climax for all the reVela-
tons that have gone before.
Telegram Sent by 6ernstort.
The telegram, exposed by Secretary
of State Lansing, WIS sent through
some secret chaunel 10 the Berlin TOT
eign office on Jan. -, 1917. by Count
Won Bernstorff, former ambassador OF
Germany 1t was as follows
i request authority 10 pay out up
TO $4,000 (ffty thousand dOilarS) III
order. as on former occasions, to luflu-
ence congress through the organza.
ton you know OF, which can perhaps
prevent VAR.
Il am beginning ia the meantime 10
act accordingly.
In the above circumstances puhtle
official German declaration in favor OF
Ireland Is highly desirable, IN order 10
gain the support of Irish influence
here"
view that the money was spent in
campaign by telegraph just before the
United States declared state OF war,
when millions of messages were poured
In upon members OF both houses.
German propagandists used the teie-
graph wires freely TO further their
purposes.
The message Of Count Won Bern
storf which was revealed by Secretary
LansiI/ was sent last January, at
time when there were no outward in
dications of break between the
United States and Germany. This, OH
Gals said, showed that Count Won
Bernstorff WAS fully aware of the
kaisers plans to launch ruthless sub
marine warfare, thus repudiauns Ger
many's pledges 10 the United States.
Exposes German Deceit.
State department officials declined
10 comment upon the object hoped 10
be realized as result of the publica-
ton OF the Bernstorn message. 1t was
believed. however, to have as Its pur-
pose supplementing the general policy
OF exposing to the world the malicious
deceit that characteriZes German Dip
lomacy, the revelation of German IN
SEPARATION OF peace propaganda III
America.
IL was denied that there was any In
tent 10 reflect upon congress III max
ing the dispatch public ut this time.
IL could not be ascertained that there
was any design in selecting any par
ticular moment for the publication anu
II was asserted also to be mere CO.
Incidence that the exposure occurred
lust after the arrival of Count Won
Bernstorif at COnstantinople as Ger
man ambassador to Turkey
Officials made II plain that the gov
eminent had some information of Ger
many's policy of dupIicity before Bern
storff requested authorization TO con
tinue his campaign To influence con
gress. There was qualification In ON
ciaI quarters that the ambassador DID
not presume to intimate to his govern
,ment that any amount of propaganda
could influence President Wilson.
Officials asserted that the govern
newt had an idea of the identity OF the
organization referred TO by Ambassa
dor Bernstorff. but. there being no ao
solute certainty. none would De haiiieu
II WAS said to be unfair 10 draw the
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