TheCodeBreakers
When, on December 27, 1916,
Ambassador
Bernstorff discussed a new peace attempt by Wilson with House, he
pointed out that the chances would be improved if his government could
communicate directly with Wilson through House. House checked with
the President. The next day Wilson permitted the German government to
send messages in its own code between Washington and Berlin under
American diplomatic auspices—an arrangement that was, at best,
simpleminded, and that, furthermore, contravened the accepted
international practice of requiring the messages to be submitted in clear
for transmission in American code.
Germany availed herself of this arrangement to make America seal her
own doom by letters she herself bore. Under the aegis of American
sovereignty, Zimmermann sent his message striking at that sovereignty.
It was delivered to the American embassy in Berlin at 3 p.m. January 16.
It could not go direct to Washington, but had to be sent first to
annaabi.ee 
