Appendix 3
Code Text of the Zimmermann Telegram
Edward Bell’s copy of the decode made at the American Embassy (US National Archives, Foreign Affairs Branch, State Department Decimal File 862.202 1 2/81 ½). English translation by Barbara Tuchman.
The following has Bernstorff’s slight alterations at the beginning and is the same as the text obtained by Hall in Mexico City and which he gave to Ambassador Page.
130 |
(number of telegram) |
– |
13042 |
(Code identification number) |
– |
13042 |
Auswärtiges Amt |
Foreign Office |
8501 |
telegraphiert |
telegraphs |
115 |
Januar 16 |
January 16 |
3528 |
colon (:) |
colon (:) |
416 |
number 1 |
no. 1 |
17214 |
ganz geheim |
strictly secret |
6491 |
selbst |
yourself |
11310 |
zu |
to |
18147 |
entziffern |
decipher |
18222 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
21560 |
Wir |
We |
10247 |
beabsichtigen |
intend |
11518 |
am |
from the |
23677 |
ersten |
first |
13605 |
Februar |
February |
3494 |
un- |
un- |
14963 |
eingeschränkt |
restricted |
98092 |
U-boot |
U-boat |
5905 |
Krieg |
war |
11311 |
zu |
to |
10392 |
beginnen |
begin |
10371 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
0302 |
Es wird |
It will |
21290 |
versucht |
attempted |
5161 |
warden |
be |
39695 |
Vereinigten Staaten |
United States |
23571 |
trotzdem |
nevertheless |
17504 |
neutral |
neutral |
11269 |
zu |
to |
18276 |
erhalten |
keep |
18101 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
0217 |
Für den Fall |
In the event |
0228 |
dass dies |
that this |
17694 |
nicht |
not |
4473 |
gelingen |
succeed |
22284 |
sollte |
should |
22200 |
comma(,) |
comma(,) |
19452 |
schlagen |
offer |
21589 |
wir |
we |
67893 |
Mexico |
Mexico |
5569 |
auf |
on |
13918 |
folgender |
following |
8958 |
Grundlage |
terms |
12137 |
Bündnis |
alliance |
1333 |
vor |
(prefix of verb vorschlagen – to offer |
4725 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
4458 |
Gemeinsam |
Together |
5905 |
Krieg |
war |
17166 |
führen |
make |
13851 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
4458 |
Gemeinsam |
Together |
5905 |
Krieg |
war |
17166 |
führen |
make |
13851 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
4458 |
Gemeinsam |
Together |
17149 |
Freidenschluss |
peace |
14471 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
6706 |
Reichlich |
Generous |
13850 |
finanzielle |
financial |
12224 |
unterstützung |
support |
6929 |
und |
and |
14991 |
einverständnis |
understanding |
7382 |
Unserer Seits |
our part |
15857 |
dass |
that |
67893 |
Mexico |
Mexico |
14218 |
in |
in |
36477 |
Texas |
Texas |
5870 |
comma(,) |
comma(,) |
17553 |
New |
New |
67893 |
Mexico |
Mexico |
5870 |
comma(,) |
comma(,) |
5454 |
AR |
AR |
16102 |
IZ |
IZ |
15217 |
ON |
ON |
22801 |
A |
A |
17138 |
frühen |
former |
21001 |
verloren |
lost |
17388 |
Gebiet |
territory |
7446 |
zurück |
back |
23638 |
erobern |
conquer |
18222 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
6719 |
Regelung |
Settlement |
14331 |
im |
in the |
15021 |
Einzelnen |
details |
23845 |
Euer Hochwohlgeboren |
Your Excellency |
3156 |
überlassen |
To be left |
23552 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
22096 |
Sie |
You |
21604 |
woollen |
will |
4797 |
vorstehendes |
of the foregoing |
9497 |
dem |
the |
22464 |
Präsident |
President |
20855 |
streng |
in strictest |
4377 |
geheim |
secrecy |
23610 |
eröffnen |
inform |
18140 |
comma (,) |
comma (,) |
22260 |
sobald |
as soon as |
5905 |
Kriegs |
war’s |
13347 |
Ausbruch |
outbreak |
20420 |
mit |
with |
39689 |
Vereinigten Staaten |
United States |
13732 |
fest |
certain |
20667 |
steht |
is |
6929 |
und |
and |
5275 |
Anregung |
suggestion |
18507 |
hinzufügen |
add |
52262 |
Japan |
Japan |
1340 |
von |
by |
22049 |
sich |
himself |
13339 |
aus |
from |
11265 |
zu |
to |
22295 |
sofortig |
immediately |
10439 |
beitretung |
join |
14814 |
einladen |
invite |
4178 |
(setze infinitiv mit zu – i.e., einzuladen) |
(form the infinitive – i.e., to invite) |
6992 |
und |
and |
8784 |
gleichzeitig |
at the same time |
7632 |
zwischen |
between |
7357 |
uns |
us |
6926 |
und |
and |
52262 |
Japan |
Japan |
11267 |
zu |
to |
21100 |
vermitteln |
mediate |
21272 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
9346 |
Bitte |
Please |
9559 |
den |
the |
22464 |
Präsident |
President |
15874 |
darauf |
of this |
18502 |
hinweisen |
point to |
18500 |
comma(,) |
comma(,) |
15857 |
dass |
that |
2188 |
rücksichtslos |
ruthless |
5376 |
Anwendung |
employment |
7381 |
unserer |
our |
98092 |
U-boote |
U-boats |
16127 |
jetzt |
now |
13486 |
Aussicht |
prospect |
9350 |
bietet |
offers |
9220 |
comma(,) |
comma(,) |
76036 |
England |
England |
14219 |
in |
in |
5144 |
wenigen |
few |
2831 |
Monat- |
month- |
17920 |
en |
s |
11347 |
zum |
to |
17142 |
Frieden |
peace |
11264 |
zu |
be |
7667 |
zwingen |
compelled |
7762 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
15099 |
Empfang |
Receipt |
9110 |
bestahigen |
acknowledge |
10482 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
97556 |
Zimmermann |
Zimmermann |
3569 |
stop(.) |
stop(.) |
3670 |
Schluss der Depesche BERNSTORFF |
End of despatch |