The Zimmermann Telegram
On 19 January 1917, German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann dispatched an encrypted telegram to the German minister in Mexico City, Heinrich von Eckardt. The telegram proposed that if the United States entered the war, Germany would support Mexico in reconquering its "lost territory" of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in exchange for a military alliance. Germany also hoped to draw Japan into the scheme. British Naval Intelligence (Room 40) intercepted and decoded the telegram and passed it to the US government on 24 February 1917. President Wilson released the text publicly on 1 March 1917. The revelation caused fury across the United States, particularly in the southwest, converting many isolationist voices to support for entering the war. Zimmermann compounded the damage by publicly confirming the telegram's authenticity on 3 March, apparently believing it would make no difference. Congress declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917.
- Year: 1917 CE
- Category: Political
