The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-03-01
THE GERMAN-MEXICAN PLOT

The giving out of the amazing
note of January 10, in which For
eign Secretary Zimmerman sought
an alliance with Mexico in the event
of war with the United States, was
probably for the immediate purpose
of forcing the adoption of the ship
arming bill by Congress. The Presi-
dent knows how to bring popular
pressure upon Congress. 1t is easy
to imagine the avalanche of tele-
grams that will pour upon the desks
of its members today from startled
constituents who have been slower to
let their sentiments be known than
have been the voluble pacifistsL and
pro-Germans. A secondary object to
be accomplished is the passage of the
espionage measures now pending in
the House. But the, ultimate result,
it is predicted without hesitation, is
the taking up of the gauntlet which
Germany has thrown down, and the
waging of war with the central en-
pires, with or without a formal dec
laratioIi of war. 1t is inconceivable
that Japan could be drawn into such
an alliance. 1t is to consider at too
low an estimate the astuteness of
that nation. 1t is even possible that
the broaching of the plan in Mexico
City to the japanese representatives
may have been the means of its COM
ing into the possession of the United
States Government though the jap
anese embassy here was in ignorance
of it.
The limitations of Carranza's stu
pidity may possibly not yet have
been reached, but following the futile
effort to unite the American nations
in an embargo on ammunition and
supplies, there has come the assur-
ance that the idea of stopping the
British supplies of oil was entirely
groundless" with an expression of
"amazement" that American news
papers should have so misinterpreted
the Mexican proposal.
Undoubtedly it would be a calam-
ity for the President to go before
Congress and to ask for a declara-
ton of war with Germany and then
have the resolution declaring war fill
clustered away in the three days of
the session that remain. There is
apparently a small group of peace
at-any-price Congressman in both
houses. The House group, fortu-
nately, consists mainly Of men whose
constituents have already decreed
them a long rest from public affairs.
Only one of the Senate group rerires
on the fourth of March.
But it is as certain that the Presi-
dent will have the country behind
him now in asking Tor a declaration
of war as it is that the American
nation still exists. The taking of the
people into his confidence in letting
out the story of the Mexican plot
may be regarded as an indication of
the information the President may
have in reserve. The people need
hardly to be reminded of the long
series of insults and mortal injuries
received at the hands of Germany,
of which they have already been ap-
prised. 1t will be a complete case
when the record is fully made up
from the secret lilies of the State De-
parrment.
The new Congress will have a good
deal of fresh blood in it, let US hope
a needed addition of red blood. Men
like Knox and Kellogg and Hale and
Hiram johnson will be welcome ad-
ditions to the Senate at this juno
ture. If the President is unwilling
to risk an appeal to this Congress,
subject to the tactics of pacifist fill
busters, let the new Congress be
called in session, while this Congress
in its expiring moments clears the
decks-for action.
Meanwhile Arizona, New Mexico,
and Texas are in no immediate dan
ger of transfer to the regime of Car
rama
MANLESS GUNS