Mexico Missouri message., 1917-10-04
Plan to Use Money to Influence
Congress on War ArouSes
Legislators.
BERNSTORFF Seen UNMASKED
Disclosures Made by Secretary Of
State Lansing Regarded as Show.
ing Ambassador Directed Ger
man Intrigue.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. proof that
German diplomatic agents in the
United States violated all rules of in
ternatlonal courtesy and cOnspired tc
influence congress by the use of money
TO prevent this country from going to
war to defend Itself from the attacks
of the German government Is seen in
the publication by Secretary of State
Lansing of q note from Count Won
Bernstorff, former German ambassador
TO the United States, asking for author
ity to expend $4,000 for the purpose
Of influencing congress.
The publication Of this note was a
greater bombshell than any of the 9TH
er revelations of German dupliclty that
nent. Neutral diplomats, members of
congress and others were literally as
founded by the disclosures. 1t has
been no secret that the German diplo-
matte representatives, in the United
States conspired in various ways to
prevent this country from entering the
war on the siLs of the allies but the
proof that German money was used or
was to be used for the specific pur-
pose Of influencing congress furnished
an amazing climax for all the revela-
tiOns that have gone before.
Telegram Sent by 5ernstorff.
The telegram, exposed by Secretary
OF State Lansing, was sent through
some secret channel to the Berlin for
eign office on Jan. -, 1917, by Count
Won BernstOrff, former ambassador of
Germany. 1t was as follows:
Il request authority to pay out up
10 $50,OO0 (ffty thousand dollars) in
order, as on former occasions, to intlu-
ence congress through the Organiza-
ton you know of, which can perhaps
prevent war.
II am beginning in the meantime to
act accordingly.
''In the above circumstances public
official German declaration in favor of
Ireland Is highly desirable, in order to
gain the support of Irish influence
here"
Some congressman expressed the
view that the money was spent in
campaign by telegraph just before the
United States declared Il state Of war,
when millions of messages were poured
in upon members of both houses.
German prOpagandists used the tele-
graph wires freely to further their
purposes.
The message of Count Won Bern
storff which was revealed by Secretary
Lansing was sent last January, at
time when there were no outward in
dicatiOns of a break between the
United States and Germany. This, Off
cials said, showed that Count Won
Bernstorff was fully aware of the
llaiser's plans to launch ruthless sub
marine warfare, thus repudiating Ger
many's pledges to the United States.
Exposes German Deceit.
State department officials declined
to comment upon the object hoped to
be realized as result of the publiCa-
ton OF the BernstOrf message. 1t was
believed, however, to have as its pur-
of exposing to the world the malicious
deceit that characterizeS German dip
lomacy, the revelation OF German in-
spiratlOn of peace propaganda in
America.
II was denied that there was any in
cent to reflect upon congress in max
ing the dispatch public at this time.
1t could not be ascertained that there
was any design in selecting any par
ocular moment for the publication and
1t was asserted also to be mere co.
Incidence that the exposure occurred
lust after the arrival of Count Won
LBernstorff at COnstantinOplc as Ger.
man ambassador to Turkey.
Officials made 1t plain that the gov
ernment had some information Of Ger
.manys policy OF duplicity before Bern
st0rff requested authorization to con
1inde his campaign to influence CON
rress. There was qualification in oili-
.,iul quarters that the ambassador did
,slOt presume to intimate to his gOveri-
.Iuent that amy amount of propaganda
could influence President Wilson.
Officials asserted that the govern
mcnt had an idea OF the identity of the
organization referred to by AmbNssa-
dor Bernstorff. but, there being no alb
so!utc certainty, none would be named.
II was said TO be Unfair TO draw the
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