South Bend news-times., 1917-09-21
CABLED TO KAISER
FOR GERMAN GOLD
CCoNTINUED FROM PAGE oNED /!

spired telegrams sent 20 various
leaders in both branches.
Bernstorm Was Busy
II was explained that this cable
gram Of Count Won Bernstorff's was
sent 10 Germany on the day after
Pres't Wilson made his address TO
the senate outlining the necessity for
lasting peace incidentally the
famous Zimmerman message intend
ed 10 embrOil the United State,
Japan and Mexico. was dated Jan.
19, indicating that the then German
ambassador and his chief at the Ger
man foreign office were very busy
just at this time.
Issuc Statement
The higher officials of the stato
department declined TO say whether
the text Cf the BernstOrff caDlegram
was in their hands when diploma
tic relations with Germany finally
were broken. n this connection
this statement was made:
The text OF Count Won Bern
storfrs cablegram in itself was suf-
hcient TO have warranted q break
in diplomatic relations For unex-
ampled auddcitv in endeavoring 10
influence the highest legislative
body I'm .he United States the action
of the ami assador was unpaIa allelcd
in history. But this was only one
tnirs in connection with his opera
tiors at this particular time. For
instance. the state department mas
good reason 10 feel certain that
Count Won Bernstorff had positive
knowledge for At least two weeks
before the German submarine note
was issued that il was com ng and
that il would openly break the pre-
viOus promises that international
law was 10 he observed in the con
duct Of its submarine campaign.
During that two weeks the am
bassador did everything possible to
mold public opinion towards the
contentious Of his government and
TO try 10 influence officials TO Il
viewpoint that unrestricted sub
marine warfare was the only answer
Germany could make TO Great Brit
aims blockade methods and her po-
licy of arming all Of her merchant
men with guns fore and aft
First News of Bribery.
Today's revelation was the first
to be made 10y Sec'y Lansin- which
directly affects Count Won Bern
storff'sl operations here along brib-
cry lines. 1t is admitted that there
is a wealth OF information dealing
with all Of his operations in the
possession of the departmenS.
For many months before he left
the United States the count, nov
German ambassador to Turkey. was
under watch by secret service opera
tlves detailed to the task by the
state department. These men kept
a faithful record OF the ambassa-
doris movements and of the money
which he received in unlimited
quantities thrOHsh two well known
New York banking firms. II is like
" that before the department clos
es It's chapter en- Count Won Bern
stOrn it Will show just who receiN-
cd some of this gold.
Congress- Leaders Confer.
Congress leaders conferred at tAe
capitol following the announcement
by the state department. They aG-
mitted that the declaration by the
former ambassador presented the
widest possibilities and there was
general feeling that the entire mat
ter should lie gone into IN some
way 1t was pointed out that the
language used by the am bassador
indicated that ne had not worried
on senators and representa-
tives but that ne hal operated
through other channels which were
in a position to influence individual
members.
HOT DENIAIIS MADE.
Charles T. Hallinan, editorial
writer of the American Union
Against Militarism, vigorously denied
that his organization was the one
referred To by Count Won Bernstorft
in his cablegram. Mr. Hallinan said:
The American Union Against Mil
itarism has been financed solely by
contributions. most Of them small in
amount. from Quakers, pacidsts, So
cialists, and other liberals and radi-
calls who were aroused over the
menace of militarism i'm this cOun
try"
There was talk this afternoon Of
investigation to get at
the bottom of all the prof. German
propaganda and its connection with
congress.
Members of the little group Of
wilful men" made emphatic denials
that they had ever been approached
by German agents with corruption
funds.
MEXICAN FLOODS KILL.
News Service:
MENICO CITY, Sept 21-Many
have been Killed by floods