Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-08-10
THE SINISTER INFLUENCE BEHIND THE GERMAN
PEACE PROPAGANDA.


M been revived with a new object
Having failed in her ntrigues to prevent the United
States from entering the war Germany hopes to create
dssension in the peace council, later to
meet
Realizing that her plans for world domination and
the annexation Of adjoining territory are now mpos-
sible Of fuhlment, Germanys ruling classes are try
Ing to save what they out Of the wreck
Above all they want 10 restore the ship
ping advantages which Germany possessed before the
war; which were fast giving her industrial supremacy.
Through a combination Of ruthless diplomacy and
the neglect Of other nations, Germany before the
enjoyed free entry into all the ports OF the world on
equal terms with every other nation while she denied
equal industrial rights in her own country and her
colonies.
over Russia she exercised an industrial mastery
through shrewd commercial treaties which made Rus
STA business province Of Germany. Russia dared not
abrogae these old treaties Nearly all the import trade
OF Russia was handled through German firms and much
of it through German ports.
In France Germany enjoyed the most favored privi-
leges wrung from France in the of 1870. German
business men gobbling up French trade and
manufactures but French capitalists not allowed
to penetrate Germany.
Free trade England and all her colonies were open
to German business on practical equality with the
tyes but Germany protected her manufacturers by a
high tariff wall
German export corporations were subsidized by the
government that they could undersen and drive out
their competitors.
The trust" in Germany was only legal but fos-
by the government to boost German export trade
The practice Of selling products abroad less than
cost and charging the home consumer prices high
enough TO make up the difference encouraged by
the German Government and submitted to by the Ger
people without a murmur.
German business and bankers allowed to
Americans but in Germany American business men
who bought potash deposits ruthlessly compelled
to give up their holdings without profit in order to
preserve the German potash monopoly Germany has
no law making contracts nviolate such exists in
America
Since Che war Germany has forfeited these advan-
tages and the Allies have held several conferences to
map out plans by which. after the war Germany will
DO deprived Of her special privileges and made to do
business throughout the world equal terms
This is what the Germans call the economic block
ado or the "war after the war" They profess horror
the thought and everyone Of their peace feelers
tho subject freedom of the and economic lib
erty Of all nations is designed TO prevent the carrying
out OF these plans
At the same time Germany has said nothing about
revising her own patent laws. which rob all other
lions and refuse adequate protection to foreign in
ventors Much OF German efficiency" is based on
stolen patents of foreigners.
Germany maintained many commercial OutpOStS IN
America before the war A large and powerful group
Of bankers IN New York the German steamship
teresis are vitality interested the restoration Of
man privileges after the war. It means millions to
them.
So they are beginning their agitation to separate
America from the Allies in the peace conference This
group has powerful connections IN many lines OF bust
ness through financial and racial afinities
II possesses influence with many newspapers and has
friends and retainers in the United States Senate.
The propaganda now in progress takes the form Of
attacks England She is charged with plots against
American trade after the war. She is charged with
keeping millions Of from the front.
The anti-English talk is the hall mark Of pro-Ger-
manism. All these forces consciously or uncon-
sciously working for the big German financial and
steamship interests in the United States.
Their newspapers, the German Socialist crowd who
dominate the ridiculous little Socialist political
chine in the United States the foreign language
and tho organizations Of paclfsts all doing the
work OF the German export "cartels"
President Wilson in his Flag Day speech and
for all committed The United states against any Ger
peace fakes.
Those elements which seize every cue from Berlin
to clamor peace terms ask what the is all
no longer any excuse OF ignorance The President made
the issues plain.
Those who refuse to toe the mark to the American
program are flirting with treason and the source Of
their inspiration usually DO found in the German
financial interests.