“OUR BEST ALLIES.”

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1917, Page 2

“OUR BEST ALLIES.”

HOPES FROM THE GERMAN AMERICANS.

The “Cologne Gazette’’ in June published a front-page leading article oh the United States which, says F. W ile in the “Daily Mail,” is an unblushing avowal that Germany’s “best allies’ will continue to be, as hitherto, the German-Aniericans. It says : “If we show that we cannot be bluffed, and simply shrug our shoulders over the blustering reports about preparations which reach us from the United States, American respect for us will only be increased. In addition, to such an extent as the system of communications permits, there must be a simultaneous campaign of political propaganda Any American who is convinced that Germany is conducting a war of defence and does not think of interfering with the independence of South America or the political interests ,of the United States in Central America is lost for the purposes of the Entente. English correspondents, in Washington admit that the greatest danger for decisive conduct of the war in America, lies in the German propaganda. It is undoubtedly to combat this German propaganda that Lord Northcliffe is about to proceed to America.

“Our best allies will continue to be, as hitherto, the German-Americans. Their services to the German cause can be under-estimated only by people who are grossly ignorant of American conditions, which is by no means seldom in Germany. As good Americans, which they of course are, our compatriots have hitherto not pursued a policy of political separation. They therefore do not constitute any national group of .their own in the political life of the Union, which is not a. constellation of nationalities. Their direct influence, on the oilier hand, is all the greater inasmuch as all classes, professions, political circles, and other sections of American society are permeated in the highest degree by German-America'ns. “They constitute a sounding-board for German .propaganda such as exists iu none of the other enemy countries, and they inject into!American public opinion an element of restraint and circumspection which has already often been a cause of embarrassment to Hen* Wilson and bis English friends. We may be certain that they are also at tin's horn at their posts.