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Primary Documents Zimmermann Telegram, 19 January 1917
Between1914andthespringof1917,theEuropeannations
engagedinaconflictthatbecameknownasWorldWarI.
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While
armies
moved
across
theface
of
Europe,
the
United
States
remained
neutral.
In1916WoodrowWilsonwaselectedPresident
forasecondterm,largelybecauseoftheslogan
"Hekeptusoutofwar."
Eventsinearly1917wouldchangethathope.
InfrustrationovertheeffectiveBritishnavalblockade,inFebruaryGermanybrokeitspledgetolimit
submarinewarfare.InresponsetothebreakingoftheSussexpledge,theUnitedStatessevered
diplomaticrelationswithGermany.
InJanuaryof1917,BritishcryptographersdecipheredatelegramfromGermanForeignMinisterArthur
ZimmermanntotheGermanMinistertoMexico,vonEckhardt,offeringUnitedStatesterritoryto
MexicoinreturnforjoiningtheGermancause.Zimmermannhimselfdispelledinitialsuspicions
regardingthetelegram'sauthenticitybygivingaspeechinwhichheconfirmeditsexistence.
ThismessagehelpeddrawtheUnitedStatesintothewarandthuschangedthecourseofhistory.The
telegramhadsuchanimpactonAmericanopinionthat,accordingtoDavidKahn,authorofThe
Codebreakers,"Noothersinglecryptanalysishashadsuchenormousconsequences."
Itishisopinionthat"neverbeforeorsincehassomuchturneduponthesolutionofasecret
message."Inanefforttoprotecttheirintelligencefromdetectionandtocapitalizeongrowinganti
GermansentimentintheUnitedStates,theBritishwaiteduntilFebruary24topresentthetelegram
toWoodrowWilson.
TheAmericanpresspublishednewsofthetelegramonMarch1.OnApril6,1917,theUnitedStates
CongressformallydeclaredwaronGermanyanditsallies.
Clickheretoreada1921commentaryupontheconsequencesoftheZimmermannTelegram.Click
heretoreadthereactionoftheJapanesegovernmenttonewsofthetelegram.
To the German Minister to Mexico
Berlin,January19,1917
OnthefirstofFebruaryweintendtobeginsubmarinewarfareunrestricted.Inspiteofthis,itisour
intentiontoendeavourtokeepneutraltheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Ifthisattemptisnotsuccessful,weproposeanallianceonthefollowingbasiswithMexico:Thatwe
shallmakewartogetherandtogethermakepeace.Weshallgivegeneralfinancialsupport,anditis
understoodthatMexicoistoreconquerthelostterritoryinNewMexico,Texas,andArizona.The
detailsarelefttoyouforsettlement...
YouareinstructedtoinformthePresidentofMexicooftheaboveinthegreatestconfidenceassoonas
itiscertainthattherewillbeanoutbreakofwarwiththeUnitedStatesandsuggestthatthePresident
ofMexico,onhisowninitiative,shouldcommunicatewithJapansuggestingadherenceatoncetothis
planatthesametime,offertomediatebetweenGermanyandJapan.
PleasecalltotheattentionofthePresidentofMexicothattheemploymentofruthlesssubmarine
warfarenowpromisestocompelEnglandtomakepeaceinafewmonths.
Zimmermann
(SecretaryofState)
Source:SourceRecordsoftheGreatWar,Vol.V,ed.CharlesF.Horne,NationalAlumni1923
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Saturday,22August,2009 MichaelDuffy
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