BLACKMAIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 266, 13 April 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

BLACKMAIL.

GERMANY'S SECKKT SERVICE METHODS.

The fact that the fall of tha Spanish Premier was due to the press manipuiations of the German Ambassador at -Madrid, recalls how Germany has made press blackmail and bribery a feature ot lier own propaganda. A White Paper published by the British Government contains a report by Lord Goschen, who was British Ambassador at Berlin, upon a German organisation which was established tor the purpose ot influencing tho press in other countries. The report was written on February 22nd, 15)11, about live months before the outbreak of war. The company, which was established secretly, was to have an annual revenue at the outset of £75,ULK). In June, however, some months alter the British Ambassador's report was received, a German trade paper published details of the organisation. Not a word about the company had been published in any other newspaper in Germany, but the trade paper had evidently been overlooked by those who were manipulating the strings. The trade paper confirmed Lord Goschen's report that the German Imperial Government was supporting the scheme by an annual subscription of JL'I2,SUO, paid out of its Secret Service fund. Lord Goschen also reported that an order had been issued from high official quarters that the article in the trade paper must not be reproduced or referred to in any way, as its publication was extremely inopportune and embarrassing. Tlie British Ambassador, in his report to the British Government, sa->d that the company would m future issue the advertisements of its members only to those foreign papers which published German iniormation originating exclusively from the new company, which was to be regarded as the only authentic source ot information concerning Germany and all things German.

•'This ini'ormation," Lord Goschen goes on to say, "tiiey are to receive tree of cost or at a nominal sum, to tliat the willing foreign papers will derive very material benefits from their collaboration with the company, viz., lucrative advertisements and tree matter written in the language of the country in which the papers are published. The foreign press is to be watched by the company's agents appointed m the various foreign centres. Any incorrect reports are to be telegraphed home, and corrected by telegram.-, issued by the company. The countries in which the system is to be immediately inaugurated arc chiefly the South American States and those of the Far East, but the system is to embrace all countries outside Europe. The German cable rates tor press telegrams are 10 be reduced in the interests of the new company. It is difficult to say whether tne evil which the new company 's to remedy really cxi3ts, or exists to any perceptible extent, but it is certain that a very influential private company has been called into existence' with every official encouragement, commanding ;n enormous revenue, for the purpose cf a pro-German newspaper propaganda. Whether tlu evil exists or not —the money will be spent on secret service to popularise Germany abroad. Jt do~s not seem to have occurred to the promoters of the scheme that they are preparing the ground for a vast system ot international blackmail.'' Lord (jioschen's report was written live months !>efore the war.