Week followed week and still there was no declaration of war between the United States and Germany.  But in the latter part of February, the United States government made public a note which its secret agents had stopped from being delivered to the German ambassador in Mexico.  It was signed by Dr. Zimmermann, German minister of foreign affairs, and it requested the ambassador as soon as it was certain that there would be an outbreak of war with the United States as a result of the sinking of ships without warning, to propose to Mexico that she ally herself with Germany.  “Together we will make war on the United States,” said Dr. Zimmermann, “and together we will make peace.  Mexico will receive as her reward her lost provinces of Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico.”  “Ask the Mexican government,” said Dr. Zimmermann, “to propose to the Japanese that Japan break away from her alliance with England and join Mexico and Germany in an attack upon the United States.”

The publication of this note made a tremendous change in feeling in the United States.  Up to this time a great portion of the people had felt that perhaps we were hasty in breaking off relations with Germany, and in their earnest desire for peace had been willing to put up with injury and even insults on the part of the Germans, excusing them on the grounds of their military necessity.  The publication of Dr. Zimmermann’s note, however, showed the people of the United States the true temper of the government at Berlin.  It showed them that the German war lords had no respect for anything but brute force, that the language of cannon was the only language which they could understand, and that any further patience on the part of this country would be looked upon as weakness and treated with scorn and contempt.

On the sixth of April, 1917, Congress, called into session by the President, by an overwhelming vote declared that a state of war existed between the United States of America and the Imperial Government of Germany.

At this point it may be well to sum up the causes that brought the United States into the great war.  These causes may be given under two heads:  (1) the war waged upon us by submarines; and (2) the German plots and threats against our country at a time when we were at peace with them.  The latter, as given in pages to follow, comprise:  (a) The Kaiser’s threat, (b) Admiral Von Tirpitz’s threat, (c) the blowing up of American factories and death of American workingmen, (d) the attempt to get us into war with Japan and Mexico, and (e) the spending of the German government’s money in an attempt to make our congressmen vote as Germany wished.

[Illustration:  President Wilson reading his War Message to Congress]

The Submarine War