OTTO KAHN, GERMAN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 85, 3 January 1918, Page 7

OTTO KAHN, GERMAN

PKOYEII FRIEND OF THE ALLIES STORY OF MILLIONAIRE'S HELP Otto Kahn is generally known in America as tho "German banker" who has most steadfastly helped England since August, 1914. Probably 110 mail in America lias by individual effort done more to help tho Allies than this "international financier," and this has been dona for 'real sincere lovo of England and nil that, England stands for. In tho early days of the war, when one influential section of American financo wanted a lead one way or another, Mr. Kahn came out uncompromisingly for ,tli6 Allies. This was not altogether S agreeable to many of tho "international financiers" of America, particularly to is known as the "Jewish group." The bigger Jewish banking firms would not contribute towards the causc of tlia Allies without an assurance from England and France that Russia would Jiot participate, giving as a reason the treatment of thoir co-religionists in Slussia by tho Tsar's Government. This . jwas got over by Mr. .Kahn's suggestions that individuals and not firms should go ou record as subscribers. In "this way he attracted millions of dollars; his own porsonal subscriptions must amount to considerably over a million sterling. • Ho has taken it on • himself to go up and .down tho land, visiting the big industrial centres, having heart-to-heart talks, speaking as a born German, and telling in expert and forcible language just the best and quickest way to ruin Germany financially and industrially.

What hb has sacrificed to undertake ihis only his intimates' know. His idream of many years was to retire from active business and settle jh England, and to this end he had become a British subject .and formed many social aud political ties. He is not a sudden convert. Years before war broke out lie watched'the great menace grow and expressed serious misgivings, but in those days "alarmists." were' as common as blackberries, and listeners few. Now ho is iii the thick of it, fighting, tooth and nail, with words, deed, and money—-what ho calls "accursed Prus,'Eianism." Ho still discriminates between: Prussians and' Germans. Personally, I have not learned to db so— or, rather, I have "unlearned" tho .t'rickl .....'• By Word. and Docd. Writing last year, shortly after a Press attack had been made on Kahn, Loeb and Co., the • banking firm of which he is a member he said.: " In:word and deed I.have proved my fervent allegiance ;to the ca-nfee of England from the first day that ■ accursed'Prussianism let loose upon the world the devil's visitation of • tliis appalling war. lam a pro- . found admirer and. most- • sincere. well-wisher of tjiat splendid; race \ . and nation, and'eager to serve herto the best of my abilities. ' Otto Kahn was a German.- He hates what he calls "Prussianism. He has seen it at close quarters. His interests are in America. .- He loves England. " When war broke out he turned lis back'on-his. native land, Germany. He'is a millionaire banker, and lie hacks his words with money: England has had, through. him,, a great deal of money; • His words are containetl in a series' of speeches," now pub.pamphlet foriiv for free distribution .in America. They can be read with great interest by English people, written' as they are by a tried friend," who knows much more about Germans and Germany than most people, and who was never under any illusions as to the ultimate intention of his native country.Following are a-few.quotations from rccent speeches delivered -by' 'Otto Kahn in America;

•' "That accursed" thing is not a nation, but- ail evil ' spiriln-a spirit which has made the Government possessed-. byt- it and executing its abhorrent and bloody bidding an abomination in the sight of God and meni' Speaking as one "borii'of German parents, I do not hesitate to state' it as my deep conviction that the. greatest service which men of German, birth or antecedents can render to the country of their origin is to proclaim and to stand up_ for those great and fine ideals and national qualities and traditions which tliey inherited from their ancestors, and to set their faces like flint against tho monstrous doctrines and acts or a rulership which liavo robbed them of the Germany which they; loved and in which they took just pride, the Germany which- had the goodwill, respect, and admiration of the entire world.

"My words aro borne out all to emphatically by the hideous eloquence of deeds which have appalled the conscience of tho civilised world. They are borne out by numberless expressions written and , spoken of German professors employed by the State to teach its youth."