The Zimmermann Telegram: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and America’s Entry into World War I

345 Pages·2012·10.381 MB·English

by  Thomas Boghardt

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
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Acknowledgments xi
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introduction 1
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1 The Zimmermann Telegram in history 9
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2 arthur Zimmermann 23
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3 The mexican imbroglio 33
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4 The german Quest for Japan 48
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5 Drafting the Telegram 59
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6 “Blinker” hall 80
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7 interception and Decryption 90
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8 a special relationship 108
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9 The smoking gun 129
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10 Congress Debates the Telegram 145
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11 The american Public 159
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12 War 181
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13 Fallout in Berlin 191
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14 scapegoat 205
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15 aftermath in mexico 217
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16 a german reckoning 225
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17 hall’s intelligence legacy 234
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Conclusion 245
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Names and Terms 253
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Chronology 257
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List of Abbreviations 263
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Notes 265
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Bibliography 291
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Index 309
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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