Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-01
cERMANY's PERFipious PLOT AGAINST THE UNITED STA
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 nized by American army chiefs. that If Japan ever undertook to invade the United States it probably would be | through Mexico, over the border and into the Mississippi valley to split the country intwo. It recalls that Count von Bernstorff when handed his pass ports was very reluctant to return ito 1 Germany but expressed a preferences for assylum in Cuba It gives a new explanation to the repeated arrests on the border of men charged by Amer1- can military authorities with being German intelligence agents.
 Cause of carranza Note. Last of all, it seems to show a con cent proposal to neutrals that exports of food and munitions to the enente allies be GU off, and an intimation that he might stop the supply of oil, so vii tai to the British navy, which is ex- ported from the Tampico fields. What congress will do and how members of congress who openly have sympathized with Germany in their th ru rights will regard the revelation of Germany's machinations to attack the United States, is he subject tonight of he keenest interest.
 Borders an Act of War. Such a proposal as Germany i'm structd her minister to make to Mexf- borders on an act of war if, actually it is not one.
 No doubt exists here now that the persistent reports during the last two years of the operations of German agents not alone in Mexico, but all | thdough Central America and the West Indies, are based on fact. There proposed alliance with Mexico was known to high Mexican officials who are distinguished for their anti-Amer- icanism. Amnog them are Rafael Zu- baran, Carranza's minister to Ger many, and Luis Cabrera, Carranza's s minister of finance.
 Explains cabrera's Remarks. It is apparent that the proposal had taken definite form when Zubaran re- turned to Mexico City from Berlin re- gently. His return from his foreign post was covered by the fact that Carranza had called in many of his diplomats for 'tconferences.' Some time before that, Cabrera, while still at Atlantic City, in the conferences of the American-Mexican joint commits sion, had suggested in a guarded way to a member of the American section that he regretted that the commission had not succeeded fully. in settling the difficulties between Mexico and the United States for, he said, he had hoped it might continue it's work and make peace for the world.
 When pressed for some details of how the commission could restore
 
 the American republics controlled the destiny of the war by controlling large part of it's supplies. Mexico, he intimated, might do her part by cut ting off exports of oil. The American commissioners dismissed his ideas as visionary.
 Almost coincident with Zuburan's return from Germany, Cabrera return ed to Mexico City, open in his expres- sions of nti-Americanism. Zuburan, hafOrQ heinz 9 scented General CarranZa here while the Niagara mediation conferences were proceeding and was no less avowedly anti-American than Cabrera.
 German Diplomat Transferred.
 Meanwhile Baron von Schoen, sec retary of the German embassy hc>e, was transferred to the legation in Mexico City. No explanation could be obtained of the reason for his transfer and such investigation as was possi- ble failed to develop why a secretary from the United States should be sent to the German legation in Mexico. Baron von Schoen's association with the moves, if any at all, does not ap- pear. The only outward indication that he might have been connected with them is found in the fact that he recently had been detached from the German embassy in Tokio and was well acquainted with the Japanese minister in Mexico City.
 
 Carranza's peace proposal was open fly pronounced an evidence of German influence in Mexico, by officials here, who declared it was intended only to embarrass the United States. Then, apparently, some influences showed their effect on the course of the Mexi- can government, and on Feb. 25 Cabre- ra, the minister of finance issued a statement describing the "amazement'' of the Mexican government that the Ar,ND srar, -1, terpreted General Carranza's proposal to cut off exports of munitions as a suggestion that he might cut off ship menfs of British oil. They were, Cabrera declared, entirely ground less.'' and that feature of the situation ended. There ~as an intimation that Germany's as Inding proposal that Japan <ern t tor the her allies had been ansWere by Tokio.
 Won sernstorffs Connection With Plot.
 Count von Bernstorffs connection with the plot, further than serving as the channel of communication. is in tensified by the fact that the German embassy here was not merely the me dium of delivering a message in this instance, but was really a sort of headquarters for all the German mis- sions in Central and South America.
 The German naval attache, Captain .Boy-Ed, and the military attache, Captain von Papen. whose recall was
  cause of their military activities in this country, also were accredited to Mexico and between the outbreak of the war and their departure from this country made at least one visit there.
 Naval Base for German Raider.
 For many months many naval ofh cials here have believed that the mys- terious German raiders of the south Atlantic must have found a base some where on the Mexican coast, and that such a base could not be maintained without the knowledge and consent of Mexican officials. Last November the British charge at Mexico City present. ed to the Carranza foreign office a mo- tif1cation that if it was discovered that Mexican neutrality had thus been vio- lated, the allies would take drastic measures'' to prevent a continuance of that situation.
 Tn a note almost insolent in tone, Foreign Minister Aguilar replied to the charge that, in effect, it was the busi- ness of the allies to keep German rines out of western waters and l