The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-03-08
GERMAN PLOT DISCOVERED.
Proposal to Mexico and Japan to War
on United States.


Germany, in planning unrestricted
submarine warfare and counting its
consequences, proposed an alliance
with Mexico and Japan to make war
on the United States, if 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-
ceive general financial support from
Germany, reconquer Texas, New
Mexico and Arizona-lost provinces
and share in the victorious peace
terms Germany contemplated.
Details were left to German Minis
ter Won Eckhardt in Mexico City,
who by instructions signed by Ger
man Foreign Minister Zimmerman
at Berlin January 19, 1917, was di-
rected to propose the alliance with
Mexico to Gen. Carranza and suggest
that Mexico seek to bring Japan into
the plot.
These instructions were transmit
ted to Won Eckhardt through Count
Won Bernstorff, former German am
bassador here, now on his way home
to Germany under a safe conduct OBJ
tanned from his enemies by the coun-
try against which he was plotting
war.
Germany pictured to Mexico by
broad intimation, England and the
entente allies defeated; Germany and
her allies triumphant and in world
domination by the instrument of un-
restricted submarine warfare.
A copy of Zimmermann's instruc-
tions to Won Eckhardt, sent through
Won Bernstorff, is in possession of
the United States government. 1t is
as follows:
Zimnlermann's Letter.
Berlin, January 10, 1917.
''On the 1st of February we intend
to begin submarine warfare unre-
stricted. In spite of this, it 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 following
basis with Mexico: That we shall
make war together and together make
peace. We shall give general finan-
cial support and it is understood that
Mexico is to reconquer the lost terri
tory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizo-
ma. The details are left to you for
settlement.
"You are instructed to inform the
president of Mexico of the above in
the greatest confidence as soon as it
is certain that there will be an out
break of war with the United States
and suggest that the president of
Mexico. on his own initiative, should
communicate with japan suggesting
adherence at once to this plan; at the
same time, offer to mediate between
Germany and Japan.
please call to the attention OF
the president of Mexico that the en-
ployment of ruthless submarine war
fare now promises to compel Eng
land to make peace in few months.
(Signed) "ZIMMERMANN.'
President Wilson new.
This document has been in the
hands of the government since Presi-
dent Wilson broke off diplomatic re-
lations with Germany. 1t has been
kept secret, while the president has
been asking congress for full authori-
ty to deal with Germany and while
congress has been hesitating. 1t was
in the presidents hands while Chan
cellor Won Bethmann-HollWeg was
declaring that the United States has
placed an Interpretation on the sub
marine declaration never intended
in Germany and that Germany had
promoted and honored friendly rela-
tions with the United States "as an
heirloom from Frederick the Great. y
Of itself if there were no other, it
is considered a sufficient answer to
the German chancellor's plant that
the United States ''brusquely' broke
off relations without giving "authen-
tic reasons for it's action"
Supplies Missing Link.
The document supplies the missing
link to many separate chains of cir
cumstances, which until now have
seemed to lead to no definite point.
It sheds new light upon the frequent
" repeated but indefinable move
ments of the Mexican government to
f1,n frin