The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-03-01
Plan Was to Take in Japan
and Try To Reconquer Ter
ritory Lost in 1913
GERMANY WAS TO FINANCE MOVE
secretary Lansing Traces Course of Foreign Minister
Zimmerman's Note of Instructions But Refuses
to Say Whether Carranza Received
Proposal or Not


he could not amplify, he refused to dis.
cuss the source in any way.
Ambassador Sato, of Japan, was in,
formed OF the possession of the text
or Germany's proposal by this govern.
ment yesterday afternoon when he
called at the State department TO see
Counsellor Polk. 2 4, y n :
The Japanese embassy made the fol.
lowing comment:
, with regard to the alleged German
attempt to induce Japan and Mexico to
make war on the United States made
public in the press this morning the
Japanese embassy, while lacking in.
formation as to whether such invita-.
tion ever reached Toxic desires to
state most emphatically that any in.
vitation OF this sort would under no
circumstances be entertained with the
other powers OH account of formal
agreement and our common cause and
more over our good friendship with
the United States which is every day
growing in sincerity and cordiallty."
The Associated Press resolutions re-
ferred to today were embodied in the
following amazing article which was
printed all over the, United States to-
day:
Germany, in planning unrestricted
submarine warfare and counting It's
consequences, proposed an alliance
with Mexico aud Japan to make war
on the United States, II this country
should not remain neutral.
Japan, through Mexican mediation,
was to be urged to abandon her allies
and join in the attack on the United
States.
Mexico, for her reward, was to re-
ceiye financial support from Germany,
Arizona-lost proyinces-and share in
the victorious peace terms Germany
contemplated.
Details we're left to German Minis.
ter Won Echhardt, In Mexico City, who
by. instructions signed by German For.
eign Minister Zimhermann, at Berlin,
January 10, 1917, was directed to pro.
pose the alliance with Mexico to Gen.
eral Carranza, and suggest that Mexico
seek to bring Japan into the plot.
These instructions we're transmitted
to Won Echhardt through Count Won
Bernstorff, former German ambassador
here, now on his way home to Germany
under safe conduct obtained from his
enemies by the country against which
he was plotting war.
Germany pictured to Mexico, by
broad -intimation, England and the En-.
tente allies defeated; Germany and
her allies triumphant and In world
domination by the instrument of unre.
stricted submarine warfare.
A copy Of Zimmermann's instruc.
lions TO Won Eckhardt, sent through
Won Bernstorff, Is In possession OF the
United States government. It Is as fol.
lows:
Berlin, January 10, 1917.
ION the first Of February we intend
to begin submarine warfare unrestrict.
ed. In spite of this, is our intention
to endeavor to keep neutral the United
States Of America.
"If this attempt is not successful.
we propose an alliance on the follow.
ing basis with Mexico: Thatfwe shall
make war together, and together make
peace. We shall give general financial
support, and II Is understood that Mex
leo is 70 re-conquer the lost territory
in New, Mexico, Texas and Arizona.
The details are left to you for settle.
ment.
"You are instructed to inform the
President OF Mexico Of the above IN
the greatest confidence as soon as II
is certain that there will be an out.