Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-08
N .NNSWEI, TO TIE "AAfER
ICANv RIGHTS COMMITTEES.

lCAN' hAGhlS COMMITTEES.
On several occations the German
Correspondent has published an
swers Of Congressman to invitation
of the socalled American Rights
Committee" to join in an attempt to
bring the United States openly on
the side Of the Allies. The following
is the answer Mr.. George Sylvester
Viereck, the publisher Of The Father
land. has given that Committee OF
patriots" to a like invitation:
February 8, 1916.
Mr.. George Haven Putnam,
American Rights Committee,
As Cedar Street, New York.
Sir
Your personal" invitation to me
to join the so-called american
Rights Committee" headed by your
self, is an insult to my intelligence
and 6 blow to my self-esteem. Since
you ask for my membership and my
money I presume that my opinion
may be Of interest to you. / shall
not join your Committee which, like
the pirate bark Baralong, flies the
American flag to disguise it's British
identity, and / certainly will not
stultify myself by contributing a
cent to your infamous war proDa-
ganda.
The atrocities Of which you speak
so feelingly have been committed not
by the Central Powers but by Great
Britain and her Allies, l refer to
the case Of the Baralong, to the vio
lation OF the neutrality Of Greece
and China, to the bombardment Of
the undefended city Of Freiburg, and
similar sorry exploits which have
disgraced the name OF Great Britain
and her multicolored henchmen. /
refer also to tho slaughter of three
million Jews by the Russians. Pcr-
hapa Mr. Coudert, one OF the mem
bers OF your Executive Committee
who, I understand, is the paid attcr-
ney OF the Russian Government, can
give you additional information or
the subject.
I refuse to sign your mendacious
memorandum addressed to the Presi-
dent do not believe that the
United States should 30 to war with
any one but if we 80 to war we
should 20 to war with England who
blackmails our merchants, compels
them 10 violate the law of the land,
and blockades the harbor of New
York more effectively than the har-
Dor Of Hamburg, although noninally
ut peace with the United States.
/ believe that the sinking OF the
Iusitania by Germany was q reDrisal,
justified as such, and / believe that
any American who sets sail under
the British flag in these days is
guilty of conduct as unpatriotic as
that Of the small band Of pro-English
agitators who constitute your Execu-
tive Committee. l have seen the
names Of several members Of your
committee again and again al the
head Of various mushroom orsaniza-
tons Wherever these names ap-
peared there was a trail OF treason
10 American ideals, and the attempt
TO create public sentiment for carry
ing out tho sinister proposition OF an
Anglo-American alliance. think
that your propositions are even more
unsound than the Anglo-French
bonds.
Your arguments and your appeals
are worthy OF the poisoned ahrapnel
that your Wall street friends send TO
their allies across the sea. ! suggest
that you direct your appeal for funds
TO the Embassies Of Russia and Great
Britain, not to American citizens !
believe IN American rights as | be-
lieYe in American defense, but / have
no desire to support the we Boys,
whoever thoy may be, Of American
Defense Societies" or of American
Rights COMMITTEES"
Sincerely but not yours,