The Washington times., 1917-09-21
BERNSTORFF
BRANDEDAS>
PLOTTER BY
SEC.LANS|NG
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from First Page.D

(continued from First Page.)
much before February 8, II knowledge
OF his activities was conclusive at
that time.
This suggestion, however, was
partly Offset by State Department Of
iclals. who said that sometimes other
circumstances made II desirable not
to dismiss an ambassador. from which
II is inferred that the United States,
being positive OF the intention on
Germany'B part to renew unrestricted
submarine warfare, did not wish to
create an issue by the expulsion of
Count Won Bernsdorf1, which would
enable Germany later to use the
episode as an excuse for breaking her
submarine pledges to America.
COnEressIonaI Investigation.
But the prevailing opinion is that
IL the State Department had In its
possession at the time war was de-
clHred evidence as damaging as that
made public today, the President
would not have hesItated to reveal
T. a. one Of the reasons why America
must put her shoulder to the wheel
in making the world safe for de-
mocracy.
Talk of a Congressional investiga-
tion into the organization or organi-
cations referred to by the German
ambassador, particularly ION former
occasions" spread rapidly through the
Capital. This would mean a compre-
hensive inquiry into ell pacifst or
CARNATIONS a. well as German-Ameri-
can societies.
Those, however. which are inno-
cent Of wrongdoing probably will
welcome the opportunity to have the
wheat separated from the chaff.
In fact, It was urged upon the
State Department today that IT give
the names OF those organizations un-
der suspicion so that an injustice
might not be done the many worthy
Americans who. before war was de-
clared, sought earnestly to prevent
the United States from entering the
European conflict.
Ne Injustice.
Many OF these people are today
heartily supporting the National Gov
ernment, yet the finger of suspicion
will inevitably be pointed toward
them SO long as the guilty individ-
uals are not named. The Secretary
OF State, however. preferred not to go
into that phase OF the matter, largely,
II IL believed, because he isn't positive
what the German ambassador really
meant by the phrase Organization
you know Of"
At any rate. this Is a matter strict
ly speaking within the Jurisdiction of
the Department OF Justice or a Con-
gressional committee, IL one is order
ed.
Possibility that adjournment may
be delayed and that Retrospective in
vestigation will NOT yield any more
information than the executive de-
partmentS OF the Government al
ready possess may prevent a Con
gressional inquiry though sentiment
for IL was growing hourly today as
the implications OF the German lobby
and propaganda were discussed and
debated in the cloakroOms OF the
Senate and House.
HustinE Makes Charge.
Senator Husting of Wisconsin, for
instance, said that while Count Won
Bernstorff is no longer in this coun-
try there are other societies here
distributing Germany money. He
urges q full investigation.
Aside from the demand for a Con.
greESional investigation to investigate
peace societies, the Governments pur-
pose in making public the messages
was. OF course. variously Interpreted
There was the usual suggestion that
America had to be reused to a war
spirit and that peace propaganda was
much more effective than has generally
been believed.
But the most plausible explanation is
that, however earnestly officials may
strive to give an impression OF con-
tinuous omniscience, the Government
here has just been able to decipher
. long time in its posses
sion. and no time is being lost in
making them public.
Note Fnr-reaehInE.
The effect OF the Zimmerman note
was so far-rsachins that it is not con
sidsred likely the discriminating evil
dsncs with respect to Ambassador
BernEtorfI would long have been kept
secret II the State Department was
really sure OF fits decipherIng process
Washington wasn't really as start
led ny the disclosures as might be
imagined. The recent revelations OF
German duplicity have put the Ma
tlondI Capital in q mood that is hard
ly surprised at anything German.
But the date on the Bernstorff mess
age did cause q searching OF recol-
lections a. to the diplomatic status
of Americas controversy with Ger
many on January % last.
President Wilson had just ad-
dressed the Senate in the hope OF