Semi-weekly herald., 1916-02-07
TO inspection):
THE AMERICAN DEFENSE
SOCIETY

Mr.. George Sylvester Viereck:
In view of the urgent need oi
Strengthening the present defense
movement in this country, the boarc
of trustees of the American Defense
society have voted to request youl
membership on our publicity COM
mittee. AT this time l trust you will
see fit, not only to permit the use
of your name, but also to take an
active interest in the work we are
doing.
May we count upon the favor Of an
early reply?
Yours very truly.
(Signed) C. S. THOMPSON.
December 3, 1915.
My reply in part, was as follows:
My Dear Mr.. Thompson:
thank you for your kind letter
of December 9th, asking me to ac-
cept membersip on your distinguished
publicity committee.
In looking over your magazine
discovered u page sowing seven pic
lures of ships sunk by German sub
marines, with the caption Seven
Reasons Why We Should Prepare"
think the reasons are well TAX
en-, but the argument strikes me as
one sided. The American Defense So
ciety should urge preparedness, not
only against Germany. but against
every possible enemy.
nave before me u book American
Rights and British Pretensions on the
Seas" by DR.. William Bayard Hale.
in this book find list of several
nundred American ships detained by
The British authorities contrary to
International law.
VIII you print in your magazine
page containing the pictures of
| Owo hundred of more OF these ships
educed to small size, with the cap
tion, 1.-TWO Hundred More Reasons
Why We Should Prepare?"
could not join your committee if
had any suspicion that by pre-
paredness you do not mean prepared
ness against any possible foe of the
United States.
Yours very truly,
(Signed)
GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK.
The reply was as follows:
My Dead Mr.. Viereck:
am sorry that you feel that the
argument presented in the first num-
Der of American Defense is one sid
ed. Of course at the present time
The only two possible foes of the
United States are Germany and Jap
an, but this may be changed in
very few years, SO that we may have
20 repel an invasion from Hayti or
England. The one is about as likely
rs the other.
As for your suggestion that the
seizure of about 200 ships by the
British authorities creates an inter-
national crisis comparable to the
murder of more than 200 American
citizens, l am afraid it does not in
terest those of US who are in charge
of the editorial work of the magazine.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) PHILIP J. ROOSEVELT.
Editor.
December IA, 1915.
This extraordinary epistle impelled
me to write in reply:
Ny Dear Mr.. Roosevelt:
| have read your letter with in
creasing astonishment. We have even
less to fear from an invasion by Ger
many than from an invasion by Hayti.
Our primary danger is Great Britain
and her ally, Japan. enclose map
showing how British naval stations
dominate our Atlantic seaboard. Trim
idad, Jamacia, Barbados, Bermuda,
and Canada. with population more
English than the English themselves,
are each in themselves powerful
mementos of the English strangle-
hold upon our country. Germany is
hacking her way thru this ring of
foes. Before long, we too, shall have
to smash the ring around our shores
If we wish to survive as a nation.
Yours very truly,
(Signed)
GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK.
This reply came to hand, with the
remarkable confession that betrayed
the real attitude and motives of the
men of the American Defense socie-
ty:
Dear Mr.. Viereck:
disagree with you when you write
and say Germany has no intention
Of waging war against the United
States" l believe that Germany has
no intention of respecting the Monroe
Cha Il.