The Zimmermann Telegram The Zimmermann Telegram intelligence, Diplomacy, and america’s entry into World War i Thomas BogharDT naval institute Press Annapolis, Maryland This book has been brought to publication with the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest. Naval Institute Press 291 Wood Road Annapolis, MD 21402 © 2012 by Thomas Boghardt All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Boghardt, Thomas. The Zimmermann telegram : intelligence, diplomacy, and America's entry into World War I / Thomas Boghardt. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-61251-148-1 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-61251-147-4 (e-book) 1. World War, 1914-1918—Diplomatic history. 2. Mexico—Foreign relations—Germany. 3. Germany—Foreign relations—Mexico. 4. World War, 1914-1918—United States. 5. Zimmermann, Arthur, 1864-1940. I. Title. D619.3.B64 2012 940.3'112—dc23 2012026570 ∞ This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). Printed in the United States of America. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First printing To Lori, Adam, and Jacob Contents List of Illustrations ix ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acknowledgments xi ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- introduction 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 The Zimmermann Telegram in history 9 --------------------------------------- 2 arthur Zimmermann 23 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 The mexican imbroglio 33 ------------------------------------------------------------- 4 The german Quest for Japan 48 ----------------------------------------------------- 5 Drafting the Telegram 59 --------------------------------------------------------------- 6 “Blinker” hall 80 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 interception and Decryption 90 ------------------------------------------------------ 8 a special relationship 108 -------------------------------------------------------------- 9 The smoking gun 129 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Congress Debates the Telegram 145 ----------------------------------------------- 11 The american Public 159 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 12 War 181 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Fallout in Berlin 191 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 scapegoat 205 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 aftermath in mexico 217 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 16 a german reckoning 225 --------------------------------------------------------------- 17 hall’s intelligence legacy 234 --------------------------------------------------------- Conclusion 245 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Names and Terms 253 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chronology 257 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ List of Abbreviations 263 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes 265 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bibliography 291 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Index 309 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vii illustrations Fig. 1 The original, handwritten draft of the Zimmermann telegram 68–70 Fig. 2 The start of nigel de grey’s handwritten decrypt of the Zimmermann telegram 98 Fig. 3 The typed version of de grey’s decrypt, annotated by Captain William reginald hall 99 Fig. 4 British intercept and decryption of Zimmermann’s telegram to heinrick von eckardt of February 5, 1917 103 Fig. 5 The start of de grey’s handwritten complete decrypt of the telegram 106 Fig. 6 The typed version of de grey’s decrypt, with annotation, probably by William James 107 Fig. 7 Copy of Johann heinrich von Bernstorff’s Western Union telegram 124 Fig. 8 The first and last page of the Bernstorff decrypt 126–27 Fig. 9 William F. Kirby, “exploding in his hands,” World (new York), march 2, 1917 167 Fig. 10 “The harmony Trio,” Evening News (london), march 2, 1917 168 Fig. 11 “Pie!” Atlanta Journal, march 2, 1917 169 Fig. 12 Clifford Kennedy Berryman, “For myself,” attributed to the Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), march 1917 170 Fig. 13 “some Promise!” distributed by the Press Publishing Company, likely originally published early march 1917 171 Fig. 14 “The Temptation,” Dallas Morning News, march 2, 1917 172 Fig. 15 “enlist!” poster issued by the Boston Committee of Public safety, June 1915 173 Fig. 16 “remember Belgium,” poster advertising U.s. war bonds, september 1918 174 ix