The Washington herald., 1917-03-02
PLOT EVIDENCE
AUTHENTIC, SAYS
! WILSON MESSAGE
President Tells Senate U. S.
Has Data to Show Attempt
at Alliance.
REPLIES TO RESOLUTION
Says Lansing Reports Docu-
ments Are in Hands of
American Officials.
BITTERNESS STIRRED BY DEBATE
BITTERNESS STIRRED BY DEBATE
Members of Upper Chamber WransIe
Over Authenticity of German
Jap-Mexican Plot.

All doubt as TO the authenticity
OF the amazing note sent by Foreign
Minister Zimmerman, Of Germany,
TO German Minister Eckhardt al
Mexico City, planning a German
Japanese-Mexican alliance against
the United States, was removed by
President Wilson in a message to the
Senate last night.
The President, in response to a
Senate resolution, transmitted a re-
port from Secretary of State Lam
sing on the communication. The
Secretary Of State declared that evi-
dence in the possession of the gov
crnment establishes the fact that the
note referred to is authentic" and
that it is in the possession of the
United States.
WtthhoIds Further Details.
He declared that the Evidence vas 50
'cos1d curing the present week but thst-
the transmission Of any further fnforTna-
uon on the subject ''at the present time
would be incompatible with the public in
terest.
The Presidents message was transmit
ted to the Senate within a few hours
after a debate of unparalleled bitterness
had resulted in the passage OF a resolu-
tion requesting the information When Il
was received. the message was formally
and without comment referred TO the For
eiGn Affairs Committee The document
formally and definitely placed on the
records OF the government the amazing
and almost unbelievable rvelstions OF
German intrigue against the United
States.
The resolution requesting the amend
ment passed the Senate by a compromise
agreement without a dissenting vote.
Compromise Measure.
The resolution as finally passed was a
compromise measure that grew out of
a bitter controversy over a proposal 10
ask the President to tell the Senate
where he secured the Zimmermann-E Eek
ardt note proposing the snti-American
combination. This proposal was put for
ward by Senator Stone, chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee, who was
roundly denounced in the course Of the
discussion by Senators Fall. Of New
Mexico. Pomerene. Of Ohio, and Sauls-
bury. of Delaware. Senator Stone de-
clared that he had heard the note reach
ed the State Department through the
British government. and that its pub
lication was an effort TO foster belliger-
ency" in the United States.
Senator Fall charged Senator Stone and
other Democrats with making ''insinua-
tions" against the President. and declar-T
ed that their statements amounted to a
charge Of blacklist treachery'' against
the President
Senator salisbury endorsed this crIti-
oism.
There is just one man. he said. who
can keep the United States out Of war;
and that is the President. These criti-
cisms of the President make me won
der if those who make them are imbued
with that degree of patriotism which
Americans should have. The only thin.
that will keep us out OF war is the
knowledge that IL we are forced into
it there will be no 1inching and that
the patriotism OF the people OF the United
States is as intense today as it was -
Years ago. or even Is years ago"
"witnesses in Police Court"
Senator Pomerene declared that IN.
questioning of the source of the ad-
ministration's information would re-
suit in treating the President and the
Secretary of State "as though they
were witnesses in a police court" He
denounced the State proposal roundIy..
This resolution" said Senator Stone,
as he arose to reply to the attacks OF
Senators Salisbury and Pomerene,
was not brought here by the Pres
ident 1t was originally proposed by
Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts Have
/ insulted the President by requesting
information when the request is sc-
companied by the words. If not in,l
compatible with the public interestf
Some Senators seem to have developed
a jumpiness that they cannot control.
I've stood by the President a. faith
fully as any man I haven't always
agreed with him. have been dragEed
sometimes. But I haven't been like
some truckers, who rushed mp ana
said, Tell me what you wish me 20
do have faced the President man
to man and told him what thoueht
not what thought he would like me
to say. And / think the President re-
spects me for it He ia too much Of