Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-15
ATTITUDE TOWARD
U.S.MORE FRIENDLY
Colonel Coffee Writes to Gould
Dietz, Telling Something Of Con-
ditions in Australia.
NOT HOSTILE TO AMERICANS

Anti-American feeling, which has
been rife In Australia. is beginning
to abate, people there realizing that
with the combined abuse of the Ger
man and Australian newspapers the
United States has had hard row to
hoe. This in substance is the word
received Tuesday by Gould Dietz
from Colonel Frank Coffee, an
American capitalist who has lived in
Sidney. Australia, for the last thirty
years
Colonel Coffee. a son, Frank, formerly
a reporter IN Vancouver and Melbourne,
enlisted as n private four months ago.
but has been promoted until now he is n
lieutenant.
Various causes are assigned for the
hostile feeling toward America The
public has been very bitter. the writer
says. but attributes the bitterness OF Aus
tralian newspapers that have been giving
the impression that America has been
inf1usnced against the allies. The writer
thinks that the papers are to blame, not
because OF what they say, but by reason
of what they omit He thinks that II
excerpts from the American press were
printed. Il would do much TO allay bitter
nsss
Censorship - strict.
Censorship of the press and mail con-
tinnes very strict. in one instance an
American passenger on the Ventura,
from san Francisco to Sidney. wrote a
letter TO some American friends in which
he said:
Il hear the censorship is strong in
Australia. 30 I win write you at sea-"
He wrote the letter on board and
handed Il TO the purser at sea 10 be
posted. when the censors boarded the
vessel at Sidney they turned everything
inside out. even opening magazines. The
purser had the Americans letter 10 be
pDsted IN Frisco. When the censors
found e they wanted 70 arrest the pur-
ser and only released him upon guaran-
tees that he would return TO the port OF
Sidney.
However. within the last few weeks tho
Australian papers have been quoting In
terviews from Americans and from Aua-
traiians who have been visiting In
America. These interviews for the most
part have been such a. TO cause re 4.
version IN favor OF the American atti-
tude, although there II some soreness be-
cause America does not take part in the
war on account OF the death OF Americ IN
citizens on the Lusltania and on other
boats.
One OF the indications Of the anti-Ameri.
can feeling fostered by the Australian
press cropped out In comment on the In
dian mutlny which was styled the "Amerf-
can Bred sedition." The plot was said
to have been connected on the Pacific
coast. the Inference being that the plot
teru belonged 70 the states. The reference
was really intended for a shlpload of In.
dams who had been blocked from enter
ng Canadian port. Vancouver. last july.
Japan Works for Trade.
Japanese are flooding the Australian
territory with travelling men. agents.
Journalists and manufacturers, all OF
whom are anxious 10 gather in the Aus
trslian trade. shIploads Of such agents
are continually arriving. while the United
States has been content 70 follow a
course OF apathy reflected more or less
in the consular department. II Il the
opinion Of Colonel Coffee that the United
States should have a trade bureau IN
Australia. which would supply the states
with monthly reports.
Commenting upon the reports OF consul
lar agents for the United States. Colonel
Coffee remarks:
Presumably YOU think you got all the
conditions. etc, from your consular
agents; l hope you do. but / am afraid
the vintage is pretty old by the time II
reaches America"
Owing 70 the drouth In Australia. deal
ers in hay. butter and other commodities
attempted to run up prices, but the gov.
eminent stepped IN and fixed rate De.
ycnd which the dealers wer not permit.
ted TO so.