What statement best explains the cause and effect structure of the excerpt? as hall sensed that the telegram would increase public outrage, the americans joined the war against germany. when the british home secretary took the telegram to washington, d. c., president wilson was stunned by the message. while the americans declared war on germany, the contents of the message were published on the front pages of the newspapers. after the contents of the telegram were published on the front page of american newspapers, the us declared war on germany.