Evening star., 1932-03-27
British Admiral Who Exposed Zimmer-
mann Messages on Unrestricted
U-BOat War Visits Hoover.

official information that Germany had
decided to take the fateful step which
brought the United States into the
war (namely, that unrestricted sub
marine warfare was to start on Febr11-
airy -, but it also proposed an alliance
with Mexico for the purpose Of recon-
quering Texas, New Mexico and Art-
zona.
Text Of CabIegram.
The cablegram, which was fror. the
German minister of foreign affairs,
zimmerman, to the German Ambassa-
dor to the United States. Count Won
Bernstorf, for transmittal to the Ger
man Minister to Mexico, read as follows
(taken from the Official German docu-
ments relating to the World War;:
Telegram No. 158.
Strictly confidential.
For your excellency's exclusively
personal information and transmission
to the imperial minister at Mexico bv
safe hands: ~
Telegram No. 1.
Absolutely confidential.
To be personally deciphered.
1t is our purpose on the 1st of Feb
ruary to commence the unrestricted u
boat war. The attempt will be made to
Keep America neutral in spite of it all.
In case we should not be successful
In thlS, we propose Mexico an alliance
upon the following terms: Joint conduct
OF war. Joint conclusion of peace, Am
pie financial support and an agreement
on our part that Mexico shall gain back
by conquest the territory lost by her
at prior period in Texas, New Mexico
and Arizona. Arrangement as to de-
tails Is entrusted to your excellency.
Your excellency will make the above
known to the President In strict conf
dence at the moment that war breaks
out with the United States, and you will
add the suggestion that Japan be re-
queSted to take part at once and that
he simultaneously mediate between
ourselves and Japan.
Please inform the President that the
unrestricted use of our U-boatS now of
fers the prospect Of forcing England to
sue for peace in the course of a few
months.
Confirm receipt.
ZIMMERMAN"
Through the activities of Admiral Hall
this was first brought officially to the
attention of the United States Govern
ment and published by our Government
after its authenticity had been checked
carefully. To the astonishment of most
persons, Mr.. Zimmerman admitted a
few days later that the communication
was official and accurate. 1t has since
been published in the official German
documents connected with the World
War.
Caused His Downfall.
It was considered the most sensational
hot kNn laI
produced up to that time and it is be-
ieved that it not only precipitated the
entry of the United States into the
war, but was the reason for the sub
Sequent downfall of Zimmerman.
The way this cablegram was sent and
intercepted is one of the most intriguing
instances in diplomatic history. 1t
also indicates the high efficiency of
the British naval intelligence and the
naivete of some of our American Off
cials just before the United States en-
tered the World War.
The German government apparently
considered an alliance with Mexico
against the United States as a matter
of the highest Importance. Having no
satisfactory way of communicating di-
rectly with Mexico, Germany arranged
to send the cablegram to the German
Ambassador in Washington with in
structions to forward it to the German
Minister in Mexico. The matter was
so important that she did not care to
rely on a single channel of communi-
cation, but sent it in at least three
different ways, all of which were inter-
cepteds by the British.
They sent it by the wireless route
from Nauen, Germany, to the radio
station in Sayville, Long Island, in
spite of the American supervision Of
this station, which apparently was not
completely effective in checking up on
such messages. The records indicate
that the message was also given to the
Swedish Minister in Berlin, who sent
it to Stockholm, Sweden, from which
point it was cabled to Buenos Aires,
Argentina, and thence cabled to Wash
ington.
A most extraordinary example Of
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