Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-08-10
RUSSIA IN AMERICA.
From the IIIinoIa staatazeltung.

son and that portion of the Amer
lean press devoted to his cause
against the German-American Ma
tional Alliance, was engendered for
the reason that there was suspicion
of his being under the influence Of
the German government. Even II
there were the least justification for
such suspicion, verify we would
have been the first to oppose a union
Of American citizens who receive
their motives for the conduct Of
American citizenship from without
the country In this one principle
then, we are unconditionally one
with the advocates Of the America
First" idea, that is, that every for
eign influence upon the regulation Of
American affairs must be rejected:
nor does it make one bit of differ
ence whether this influence threatens
from behind the closed doors Of a
private citizen by disseminating such
ideas, in the auditorium of some
society or in the Council Chambers
Of the government. ....
There lies before us a New York
newspaper, dated July 18th, Russ
kaya Zemlia" Is the name of this
newspaper, and it IS printed In the
Russian language. .... In this Rus
sian newspaper we find an advertise
ment almost two columns In size,
issuing for the Chicago and Pitts
burgh Russian Consulates. Russian
people in this country are informed
through this "ad" that both of these
Russian Consulates are authorized
by the Russian government to carry
on q banking business, including the
sending OF money to their father
land, and the accepting OF loans.
They are especially reminded that
the Russian government accepts all
responsibilities for all business CON
tracted by these two Consulates as
Just enumerated
Since only such loans can be con-
tracted In this country-as far as we
are aware which transactions are
not contrary to the American bank
ing laws, the Consulates in question
have become the more guilty against
our Federal laws and the laws of the
respective states where these Con-
sulates reside, since they are not
even under the jurisdiction of the
country in which they reside be-
cause of the foreign character OF
their Office
We are informed that special
Russian agents, acting through these
Consulates, make a house to house
canvass among people of Slay par
entage in this country, urging the
withdrawal of their money from
American banks, and asking them to
take it to the Russian Consulates,
where they would receive both bet
ter security and more interest on
their money.
What does our Federal govern
ment think about such maneuvers,
that is, in the light Of the injury to
American financial concerns and that
even on American soil?
At the time when Wilson COM
planned of plotting on American soil
against American enterprises and in
favor of some foreign power, urging
It's suppression as a patriotic duty,
he may have been in need Of q gen
uine case of such a violation, and IL
this is so, he has now, case with
not only financial background but
a political one as we'll
If Russia Is now especially hard
pressed for money and credit, and
1t has become a question of reaching
out for Russian sympathizers every
where, for financial support of the
Russian government, then this new
Russian and Slav enterprise, through
their Consulatcs In this country has
the additional purpose of creating
Russian sympathy through the get
ting into their pockets for the father
land, binding them in almost in
separable bonds to Russia. Thus, in
fact, Slayism instead of Americanism
becomes uppermost in their Amer
lean citizenship, or better still,
Americanism has o mighty slim
chance with such American citizens.
During the 25 years just past,
during which time a strong Russian
immigration set in, and especially
by people of Slav stock from the
Hungarian Empire, a Slav
propaganda has been carried on in
this country, of which American
authorities have no knowledge, for
the reason only, that they generally
do not sec even the most obvious.
Encouraged by an unneutral
American policy, that is ready to
grant the Allies and their friends
practically everything asked for,
Russia even ventures to employ her
agents in this country to carry out
these incidious plans.
What the consequences Of such a
propaganda may be, in case Japan,
the country that has just concluded
an agreement with Russia, should
make few more moves that would
tend to materiallze trouble with this
country that is regarded even as i'm
minent by some, can be seen even
without the vision and wisdom Of q
great statesman!
The American government ought
to follow up this Russian propogan-
da at least, and those Russians au-
thorized Consular bankers in this
country should have private con-
sultation with Uncle Sam on Amer
icanism.
QiDDmucuieu, ME ben ,.Imidn Gurrrlyun.
benten" udli piiAiiid cber nnreqeludRia er'