Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1917 — WILSON VERIFIES TEUTON WAR PLOT [ARTICLE]

WILSON VERIFIES TEUTON WAR PLOT

Senate Notified That Data Is in His Hands BERLIN NOTE IS AUTHENTIC Secretary Lansing Says All Evidence of Intrique Is in Possession of the IT. S. Government. 1 Washington, March 2.—President Wilson, in response to the senate's call, laid before that body ollicial information that lite United States is in possession of evidence which establishes the authenticity of the sensational d<Muy>eat disclosing jiOW Germany Intrigued to ally Mexico and Japan with her to war on this country. In response to ;r senate resolution the president transmitted a report from Secretary Lansing stating that the evidence had come to the possession of the United States within the last week and that the authenticity of Foreign Minister Zimmermann’s instructions to German Minister von Eckhardt In Mexico City is established as revealed by the press. President’s Reply.

The president’s reply to the resolution and Secretary Lansing's report are as follows: “To the senate: “In response.to the resolution adopted by the senate on March 1, 1917, requesting the president to furnish the senate, if not Incompatible with the public Interest, whatever information he -has concerning the note published in the press of (Ids date purporting to have been sent January 19, 1917, by the Gernuip secretary of foreign affairs to the German minister to Mexico, I transmit herewith a report by the secretary of state, which lias my approval. (Signed) “WOODROW WILSON.” Lansing’s Report. “To the President : “In response to the resolution adopted by tiie senate on March 1, 1917, requesting that that body be furnished, if not incompatible with the public interest, whatever information you have concerning the note published in the press of this date purporting to have been sent January 19, 1917, by the German secretary for for-

elgn affairs to the German minister in Mexico, I have tfie honor to state that tip' government is in possession of evidence which establishes the fact that I lie note referred to is authentic, and that it is in possession of the government of the United States, and_that the evidence was procured by this government during, the present week ;■ but t hat it is, in my opinion, incompatible with the public interest to send to the senate at the present time any further Information in possession of the government of tHe United States relative to the note mentioned M Hl the resolution of the senate. “Respectfully submitted, (Signed) "ROBERT LANSING.” Report Sent to Committee.

The senate without coinmCfit ordered the report and letter printed and referred to the foreign relations committee. Adoption of the resolution asking for the information came at the close of a day of solemndebate, which reached a climax with Republican senators joining Democrats in condemning the attitude of Senator Stone, chairman of the foreign relations committee, who declared the story of the plot was given out by tiie government to affect public opinion, and insisted upon askings the president whether the information was received from the representative of any belligerent nation. Senator Fall, Republican, said he did not wonder that the president decided to reach public opinion through the press in view of the attitude of members of the senate, who ought to be his advisers. Debate Lasts AH Day. The subject came up soon after the senate assembled and engrossed attention nearly all day, in spite of the mass of legislation awaiting action. Senators‘on both sides of the chamber expressed amazement at the story and declared that if it were true the senate should be informed. Senator Swansdn, the fourth Democratic member of the foreign relations committee, announced that he had been authorized by the president to say that the note from German Foreign Minister Zimmermann to the German minister at Mexico City, ordering and outlining the plot, was “substantially” correct as published. Senator Lodge at once moved that the president be asked to inform the senate whether the Zimmermann note was authentic and to furnish any other Information about it not incompatible with the public interest. This was referred to the foreign relations commlt-

tee, which soon reported it. rayorapty with minor amendments. Stone Continues Fight. I Chairman Stone, haying been voted down by his committee, carried to the ; floor the fight to, learn how the note camp into the government’s possession. He insisted that if any. of the nations at war had furnished it the senate and the country should know it, and proposed an amendment embodying the .question. - : During the long debate Senator Hoke Smith made a suggestion the importance of which was promptly ■ recognized and w hich served'to overcome the doubts of many senators as ito the propriety of questioning the president in regard to so grave a matter on which he had not* seen fit to communicate voluntarily. The Georgia senator pointed out that • for the executive on his own initiative to send such a document as the Zjfiij mermantM note might be construed as I a request for action, whereas he probably would be gratified to have it in the .senate’s hands as its own request. Senator Stone concluded by. saying lie would be glad to accept Senator Smith’s substitute. The substitute was adopted without a record vote. Borah "thought It Forgery. “The only criticism that can come in this case,” said Senator Underwood, “is to the press <>• the country. If this had been an important state paper, senators know it would not have been given to the press; it would have been given to congress.” Senator Borah said that when he first read the newspaper story he Was convinced the note was a forgery. “Some of the statements in it,” he said, “were to me perfectly incredible. I came to the capitol entertaining that view, but 1 confess that since that*time I have somewhat modified it.” When Senator Stone was explaining his amendment to the original resolution, Senator Hardwick, Democrat of Georgia, demanded: • “Why not ask the president where he got the letter ?” “That’s too broad,” Senator Stone replied, Hitchcock, speaking for the committee, declared that to ask the president's opinion and then cross-ex-amine him, as the Stone • amendment proposed, would be an affront. “If it is true that this note came from one of the belligerents, should not that fact bewailed to the attention ’of the country asked Senator Hardwick. “No,” Senator Hitchcock answered, “I simply think we ought to ask the president for a definite statement of his opinion regarding its authenticity.” Senator Williams said he was opposed to the Stone amendment with the rest of the committee. Senator Lodge, author of the resolution 1 , said he did not care to discuss the motives of newspapers, or enter into the question of peace or war, but he thought if the story of the Zimmermann note was untrue, it ought to be stamped as untrue at once. One Person to Give Reply. “The president of the United States,” he said, “is the one person who can give us a decisive answer bn that question. I think we should not inquire into the source of his information. “I wish to treat the president exactly as if he were of my own party. When w e may be on the very eve of war we should all stand together. I can see but one duty—to stand behind the president, and, when we ask him this question, accept his answer.” Senator Smith Of Michigan, a Republican member of the committee, said he thought the senate should have the information asked for before acting on the armed neutrality bill in order that senators “may have the whole view of our international complications.” Senator La Follette asked if he understood the Michigan senator to say this information was given out by the administration and was “communicated to congress through the medium of the newspapers.” Senator Smith replied that his first information came from the newspapers, although he was second minority member of the foreign relations committee. . . w Senator Fall (Rep.) bitterly denounced the Democrats for their attitude toward the resolution, declaring Democratic senators by suggesting that the letter was given out to influence public opinion were "accusing the president of the veriest trickery and impossible practices.” Never since the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, Senator Fall declared, had he heard such “insinuations” against a president from his own party. “You are saying to the president in this resolution,” he went on, “that you want him’to declare whether this note is authentic, and in your speeches here you are saying you will not believe him when he says, it is authentic if it comes, from a belligerent government,” Right to_Tell Senator Fall also declared that if the president hgd at all times felt he , could trust those in the Senate who should be his advisers he probably would have sent this information direct to the appropriate committee. In view of the attitude of certain Democratic senators, he added, he. did not wonder that the president had decided to appeal to piiblic opinion through the press. \ : “It is right in a democracy that the people should be informed of machinations against their peace,” continued Senator Fall. “Give the people information and they will make you here act as you should act. lam erateful te

this information to the puh’ie.’’ In a heated speech Senator Saulsbury (Dem.), the president pro tern, of the senate, indorsed Senator Fall’s sentiments. Senator Stone said ne would giadly accept the substitute offered by Senator Smith. Senator Hushes said he also was for the substitute.