Importance of Zimmermann’s Telegram in WWI Inference

Subject : History

Question: Read the excerpt from The Dark Game:

“On January 16, 1917, in a clear attempt to convince the Mexican government to help Germany in the war, Arthur Zimmermann, the German foreign secretary, sent a telegram to Count von Bernstorff, the German ambassador in Washington. The foreign secretary wanted to be certain that this message reached von Bernstorff, so he made arrangements for it to be carried aboard a U-boat to Sweden and from there to Washington through diplomatic channels.”

Which statement best explains how the evidence from this excerpt leads to the inference that the message Zimmermann sent was important?

A. Because Arthur Zimmermann rarely sent telegrams to von Bernstorff, the contents of the message had to be very important.

B. Because the message was so important and needed to reach von Bernstorff, Zimmermann wanted the message to be carried across the ocean in a U-boat.

C. The telegram’s destination, Washington, D.C., suggests that the contents of the telegram were important to the Germans and the British.

D. The route the telegram was to take, first to Sweden and then to Washington, D.C., supports the idea that the contents of the message were important.

Expert Verified Solution

Correct Answer: D. The route the telegram was to take, first to Sweden and then to Washington, D.C., supports the idea that the contents of the message were important.

Explanation:

The excerpt describes the special measures taken to ensure that the telegram reached its destination, indicating its importance. Arthur Zimmermann, the German foreign secretary, chose to send the message via a U-boat to Sweden and then through diplomatic channels to Washington, D.C., to ensure secure delivery. This complex route suggests that the message contained crucial information and needed to be kept confidential, reflecting its significance. Answer D best explains this inference by focusing on the deliberate and secure route chosen for the telegram’s delivery.