The Leak That Helped Push America Into World War I
Published 100 years ago, the Zimmermann Telegram detailed a German proposal to ally with Mexico against the United States.
On March 1, 1917, an explosive story hit the front pages of major U.S. newspapers, about a German telegram that had fallen into the hands of the American government. By then, the United States was already on its slow and inexorable path to war with Germany and, in the telegram, German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann instructed his ambassador in Mexico on what to do if America failed to maintain its neutrality and joined the Allied forces.
“In the event of this not succeeding,” , “we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an
