![]() ![]() On February 24 Britain released the Zimmermann telegram to Wilson, and news of the telegram was published widely in the American press on March 1. In response, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Germany in February. Meanwhile, frustration over the effective British naval blockade caused Germany to break its pledge to limit submarine warfare. To protect their intelligence from detection and to capitalize on growing anti-German sentiment in the United States, the British waited to present the telegram to President Wilson. In January of 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause. In 1916 Woodrow Wilson was elected President for a second term, largely because of the slogan "He kept us out of war." Events in early 1917 would change that hope. While armies battled in Europe, the United States remained neutral. 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.Between 1914 and the spring of 1917, the European nations engaged in a conflict that became known as World War I. 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. The details are left to you for settlement. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to re-conquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. 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. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. "On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. The US government & public were outraged, and then public opinion turned quickly against Germany prior to the United States declaring war on Germany in April 1917. If Mexico would join in a war against the US, they would be rewarded with financial support and the re-conquered land in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The message was intercepted by British intelligence and 'leaked' to the US government & US newspapers. It informed the ambassador that Germany would be resuming its policy of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare (USW) and, crucially, ordered him to propose an alliance. ![]() The Zimmermann Telegram: Sent through a supposedly secure channel devoted to peace negotiations (a transatlantic cable belonging to Scandinavia) on January 19th 1917, the 'Zimmermann Telegram' - often called the Zimmermann Note - was a memo sent from the German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Ambassador to Mexico. PleaseĬall the President's attention to the fact that the ruthlessĮmployment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compellingĮngland in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANNĪ note sent in 1917 from the German Foreign Minister to his ambassador in Mexico, containing details of a proposed alliance against America it was intercepted and published, strengthening US public support for war against Germany as part of World War One. ![]() Should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherenceĪnd at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he Of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the Reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to Succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the followingīasis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the "We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted It was intercepted by the British and decoded to read: Secretly, sent it to the German ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich vonĮckardt. Sent by Arthur Zimmerman to Johann von Bernstorff, who then, It was actually during WWI, called the "Zimmermann Telegram", ![]()
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