AMERICA AND THE GERMANS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15195, 16 April 1917, Page 4

AMERICA AND THE GERMANS.

Discussing the activities of the GormanAmericans, Mr J. P. Whelpley in a recent article said: —"Had it been possible to eliminate from American affairs tho work of the German propaganda, and the support given to it by a certain active percentage of German-born residents in the United States, and the antiEnglish agitation conducted by a faction of the Irish in America, with whose activities the English have been all too familiar for many years, there would have been little sentiment publicly expressed in America during the war. It is also manifestly impossible that when a man like Dr Elliot, an ex-president of Harvard College, and a voluntary and enormously effective in* tolleetuol worker for the Allies, supported Mr Wilson for re-election to the office of President of the United States, he believed otherwise than that the cause so near to his heart was in no danger from his candidate. It is equally true that the support given to Mr Wilson's opponent, Mr Hughes, by men like Mr Roosevelt, Mr Root, Mr Bacon, Senator Lodge, and many others who are tremendously pro-Ally, means they believed I>he cause of the Allies would be in as safe hands if entrusted to their candidate. It was a curious and interesting feature of the recent political campaign in America that, while scheming politicians tried to secure pro-German votes by quiet methods, every possible effort was made to keep a knowledge of those efforts from the public as a whole, for it was recognised by every practical politician that a vast majority of sentiment eitheT desired a victory for the Allies or at least had no sympathy with proGesrman activities."