GERMAN PROPAGANDA

Levin Daily Chronicle, 21 September 1918, Page 1

GERMAN PROPAGANDA

ME TILLET ON "PACITISM." LONDON, July 22. Mi' Bon Tillctt, M.P., has addressed a letter to Mr Samuel Gompers, of the ; American 'Federation: of Labour, from, which the following are extracts: — German propaganda Press representation is as rife in this county as I dare say it is in your own. In this country what is really the most insidious f'>rm of German propaganda is actively expressed by a conglomeration of political freaks and faddists who appear to be possessed of immense funds and means of doing their reprehensible work. Possibly the worst of them is the real-"fool" type. ; The movement in this country in its organised form is 98 per cent, absolutely anti-German and loyal tothe country. This loyalty" has been, materially strengthened by the advent of American help and co-operation to win. the war. A very small percentage," less than a quarter of 1 per cent., is at present engaged in collusion and co-oper-ation (conscious or unconscious) with the German propaganda. They are able to buy halls for £15,000, whereas before the war they could not raise 15 pence. This has actually taken place; in one of the northern woollen districts in England. A very small, but .malig-. na'ntly active number, mostly of the middle class, parasitic type of political and social adventurer, are engaged in what is really the most sinister and treacherous work. What marks them as -sneaks is that they will not admit their pro-Germanism, and they do this on their history as "pacifists," which is as repugnant as it is despicable. They have never done other than excuse German atrocities, they never uttered a protest against the sinking of the Lusitariia, the sinking of the hospital ships, the Belgian Prince, the Üboat horrors, the massacre of the Armenians and Polish Jews, and the outrages'of the Germans'on the Russian front. ' They did not even help to cir-. culate the remonstrances of the small but plucky coterie' of Germans who have denounced the Kaiser and Germany as forcing a war of annexation and Imperialistic ambitions. Our relationships with the German industrial organisations and Socialists are so estranged at the present moment that one cannot expect very much from the clap-trap and efforts of an •International Conference. We are well aware in this country that had the German armies of invasion conquered both the fronts of Belgium aim Prance, and even if they had conquered this country,' our German Socialist comrades and fraternal trade unionists would have been as exhilarated and enthusiastic as the Kaiser and Junkers. The refusal for 30 years of the German Socialists and workmen to discuss war, prevention and the .reason thereof, or to take universal economic action against the same, is only too obvious at the present moment. Some of us arc of the opinion that, while military might will play a large part in the settlement of the war and determination of treaties, frontiers, and geographical areas, the great military potentialities now at tlie command of the Allies will weigh with overwhelming force in the calculating German mind. Hertling's heartless words on Belgium, representing her as a pawn in the. game, have done much to open the eyes of our people here, and the German, workmen perhaps realise that they too are the "cannon-fod-der" pawns of German Imperialism and blood lust. They are now attempting to foist, a bogus Internationale upon us. I sincerely believe the peace-mud-dlers will be frustrated. Wo shall have to take the Internationale out of the hands of tlie political and middle-class •adventurer and parasitic politicians, and supbstitute boha-fide workmen's organisations in all representations of peoples of the countries interested. We are now -demanding that, just as' our own people have laid their cards on the table, so the German Socialists by German congress and German trade unionism shall agree, as wo have agreed ,to terms of discussion —that it shall be authoritative. Up till now, even, on our own side, there has been tlie worst chicancery and charlatanism of the lowest expressions of sccret diplomacy.