Politics and diplomacy
Zimmermann Telegram
A secret January 1917 cable from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann offering Mexico an alliance against the United States. Deciphered by the British, it hastened America's entry into the war.
The cable left Berlin in mid-January 1917, and on 19 January the embassy in Washington passed it on to the minister in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt. In the event of war with the United States, which Germany expected once it resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, Mexico was to receive help in recovering Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and to persuade Japan to change sides.
British naval intelligence, Room 40, read the text and passed it to the Americans in a way that hid the fact that it was breaking German codes. On 1 March 1917 the telegram appeared in the American press, and on 3 March Zimmermann admitted it was genuine. Public outrage eased Wilson's way to Congress, which declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917.
Sources
In the chronicle
(14)14 articles use this term.
1917
- 31 JanuaryGermany declares unrestricted submarine warfare
- 3 FebruaryUS breaks off relations with Germany
- 25 FebruarySinking of the Laconia
- 26 FebruaryWilson asks Congress to arm merchant ships
- 28 FebruaryPublication of the Zimmermann Telegram
- 3 MarchZimmermann admits the telegram
- 12 MarchUnited States arms its merchant ships
- 21 MarchWilson summons Congress
- 2 AprilWilson asks Congress to declare war
- 27 AprilGuatemala breaks off relations with Germany
- 5 AugustZimmermann resigns
- 21 SeptemberThe Bernstorff affair