New-York tribune., 1918-07-12

ment, radical or otherwise, that is
calculated to split Americans into
groups and befog the real issue.
(2) Give prominence to defeats Of
the Allies and of defects in their
organizations and plans.
I'D Give prominence to untoward
events in the internal political and
social life of the Allies.
W Give prominence to every peace
movement, whether it be official or
backed by groups having no official
standing.
t5) Be prepared when real peace
proposals come, for Germany will ask
tor more favorable terms than she
mas any right to expect. Assist in
getting these terms by opposing the
stated proposals and suggesting more
liberal terms than extreme Ameri-
cans or Allied governments may wish
TO insist upon.
(6) Preach good will toward all
men once war is over particularly
toward Germans, thus protecting
Germany and Germany's manufact-
urers from the to-be- e-eXpectcd con-
sequences of the war. In this con-
nectlon oppose any proposal for an
economical Or trade alliance against
Germany or boycotts against German
SoouS after the war
Held Many Conferences
The programme, given in substance
above. according to the information in
possession of Federal agents and the
agents of the Allies, was agreed upon
alter series Of conferences in
this city and in Washington In this
city at the conferences held at the Ger
man Club, IN prominent hotel. and in
the home of at least one wealthy Ger
man whose relations with Won Bern
stortf were close, several former resi-
dents of this city now in internment
camps or in Jail took part The at
tendance at these conferences varied
some of the members attending but
one. others attending several, the at
tendance depending on the nature of
the matter to be discussed.
In the matter of the German
press, it was decided that the one safe
course and the course that in the end
would be most valuable to Germany
must involve support of the war and
the government
Otherwise it was agreed the result
TO be expected would be the incarce ra-
ton of the propagandists and the seri-
GUS damaging if not the entire destruc-
ton of the standing of their organs.
ms, 1t was agreed. would cause loss
of probable effective service during the
war and of certain assistance when.
with peace returned, Germany would
be in the position of nation needing
friends and advocates. Good standing
as an American journal, it was con-
ccded, would be requisite in this work.
1t was agreed that wide pub
ilclty to failure on the part of the
.aliles could IN no way be challenged
any more than could the exploiting OF
troubles that might arise in Allied
countries, any more than the giving of
prominence to peace movements here
or abroad could be expected to bring
any one into conflict with the law or
unduly subject to criticism those Civ
Ing such movements prominence
The main reliance, however, was
staked on the work that such organs
could do. once the nations began the
serious discussion of peace treaties and
after these treaties were in force In
the peace discussion anything which
might cloud the issue would be of
value, while friends in the reconstruct
tlon period following the war would be
extremely valuable.
Trailed by U. S. Agents
During the conference period and
for considerable time before, for that
matter. most, if not all, of the con-
ferrees were under surveillance by
Federal Secret Service men and men
in the employ of the Allies. They were
repeatedly "trailed" from This city to
Washington, and among those whose