History of the World War, Volume 2 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest warMarch, Francis A., Jr.
History
History of the World War, Volume 2 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest war
March, Francis A., Jr.
World War, 1914-1918
Rintelen also said that “General Huerta was going to return to Mexico
and start a revolution there which would cause the United States to
intervene and so make it impossible to ship munitions to Europe.
Intervention,” he said, “was one of his trump cards.”
Mexico was the happy hunting-ground for pro-German plotters, and the
German Ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckhardt, was the leader
in all the intrigues. The culmination of Germany’s effort against
America on this continent came on January 19, 1917, when Dr. Alfred
Zimmerman, head of the German Foreign Office, sent the following cable
to Ambassador von Eckhardt:
On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare
unrestricted. 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 financial support, and
it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in
New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. 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 outbreak 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
employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel
England to make peace in a few months.
ZIMMERMAN.
This was almost three months before the United States entered the
war. As an example of German blindness and diplomatic folly it stands
unrivaled in the annals of the German Foreign Office.
Plots against shipping were the deadliest in which the German
conspirators engaged. Death and destruction followed in their wake. In
direct connection of von Bernstorff and his tools with these outrages
the following testimony by an American secret service man employed by
Wolf von Igel is interesting. It refers to an appointment with Captain
von Kleist, superintendent of Scheele’s bomb factory in Hoboken, N. J.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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