The Nevada County picayune., 1917-09-27
CAPITAL AGHAST AT LATEST PROOF
 OF TEUT0N PLOTS
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.

Washington proof that German diplomatic agents in the United States violated all rules Of in- ternatioual courtesy and conspired to influence congress by the use of money to prevent this country from going to l war to defend itself from the attacks If the German government Is seen in the publication by Secretary of State l Lansing of a note from Count v0n Bernstorff, former German ambassador 1 ity to expend $50.0O0 for the purpose of influencing congress.
 The publication of this note WAS a greater bomb.shell than any of the oth- CT revelations of German duplicity that l have been made by the state depart. ment. Neutral diplomats, members of congress and others were literally as founded by the disclosures. It has been no secret that the German dipto- matte representatives in the United States conspired in various ways to prevent this country from entering the war on the side of the allies but the proof that German money was used or was to he used for the specific pur- pose of influencing congress furnished an amazing climax for all the reNeia- tions that have gone before.
 Telegram Sent by eernstorff.
 The telegram, exposed by Secretary of State Lansing. was sent through some secret channel to the Berlin for eign office on Jan. 22, 10l7, by Count vou Bernstorft, former ambassador of Germany It was as follows:
 .I request authority to pay out up to S5o.oO0 (fifty thousand dollars) in order. as on former occasions, to influ- ence congress through the organiza- 1 ton you know of, which can perhaps prevent war.
 T am begiuuiug in the meantime to act accordingly.
 In the above circumstances public official German declaration i'll favor oi Ireland k highly desirable. in order to gaiu the support of Irish influence here
 Some congressman expressed the view that the money was spent in q campaign by telegraph just before the United States declared a state of war when millious of messages were poured in upon members of both houses.
 German propu gandists used the tele graph wires freely to further theii purposes.
 The message of Count Non Bern storff which was revealed by Secretary Lansing was sent last January, at time when there were no outward in dicatious ot break between th' United States and Germany This ohi cials said, showed that Count Nor Bernstorft was fully aware of the kaiser's plauS 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 t' be realized as result of the publtca ton of the BeruStortf message. It wa' believed. however, te have as its pur pose supplemeutlug the general policy Of exposing to the world the malicious deceit that CharacteriZes German dip lomacy. the revelation of German in sptration of peace propaganda il America.
 Ii was deuied that there was any in tent to reflect upon congress in mak ing the dispatch public at this time If could not be nSCertaiued thai there was any design in selecting any par ticular pomcut for the publication anC if was asserted also to he q mere co incidence that the exposure occurret just after the arrival of Count vol Bernstorft Tt Constantiuopte as Ger man amhaSsador to Turkey.
 officials made it plain that the gov ernmrnt had sOme information ot Ger many's policy of duplictty before Bern storr requested authorization to con tinue his campaign to influence con gre. There was qualification in oih ciai quarters that the ambassador di' not nrrsume to intimate to his govern ment that any amount of propaganda could influence President Wilson.
 officials asserted that the govern ment had an idea of the identity of tn organization referred to hy AmeasSa dor Bernstorff. but, there being no ah solute certainty. none would he named
 Ii was snid to be unfair to draw m
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