Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-22
England Spends Millions
For the Entertainment
OF Estate Guests
By FLOYD MACGRIFF,
International News Service Staff
COrrespOndent,

London.-England has spent s.
100000 a year during the war for
entertainment of state guests" aud
this outlay for hospitality is regard.
ed here as money we'll spent in the
empires behalf. Expenditure along
this line will continue, though the
war is over, for, looked at in one
way, this outlay buys the very best
form of propaganda-personal con-
tact, illumination and entertainment.
America. not being an empire.
might look with suspicion upon such
a large "slush fund" as antagonists
might term it. But those under
standing Britain's geographical and
commercial position, the customs of
the country and the stream of hig'.
ly placed individuals from far-oG
lands who come to England do not
criticize but admire, even though
they do not approve of the playing
host method of propaganda and the
results obtained.
One who has been a guest is not
quick to be unfriendly toward the
host. One who has been personally
conducted" on an excursion for any
purpose is more easily to be con-
WINGED. Those woh have been atten-
lively entertained do not readily for
get it. Such may be the basis for
sufficient attention to foreign guests.
During the closing months of the
war it was deemed expedient to
bring over American editors to see
for themselves how much England
had done and was doing to win the
war. First came the editors of
large American dailies, then the
editors of important Americ IN
monthly and weekly magazines, then
editors of trade journals. then CT
religious publications, then of sec
tional dailies, and no doubt if the
"bally war" had lasted long enougl
the editors of college sheets and
country weeklies would have had
look around the munition factories
of England. the training centers o.
depots in France, each delegati N
being shown things .,..lch naturally
would appeal to it most.
Whatever was done in this line
was done we'll and thoroughly. 1t
was not a slipshod affair. No bag
gage was lost, no guest had to ma:
hotel arrangements, no dull mo-
ments were allowed to creep in. An
American congressional delegation
was kept so busy seeing and doing
things that the members didn't ha re
time to send home picture post
cards.
Guests Of many nations, includ-
inc allied nations, representing the
military, naval, political, indust. Al
or journalists elements. came AMI
saw what England was doing in the
war by land, air and sea, from
North Russia to Mesopotamia !.
Africa.
Three hundred British workmen
were personally conducted along tie
far-hung front in France so that
they might return and tell their
mates at the foundry and forge VIII
the soldiers were doing and the
value of the work behind the lines.
These delegates were selected by
fellow employees. 1t was an obje t
less i to the shipbuilding rivete,s
and shell-making worknen.
Distinguished TO. >.gners, r.
and military, from co-belligerents
Europe and the near east were N
London so constal.,.y their
exclteu i....e public interest.
While on the subject of person
propaganda it might be we'll to re-
cord that King George himself must
sense its value. While in no way
intimating that it is necessary for
the king to utilize propaganda
for there is a genuine warmth in
the heart of every Britain for his
king"-the reigning monarch ap-
pears to have adopted more demo-
cratic tendencies than any predeces-
sor, dropping all possible of the
aloofness that usually 10 associated
With Z king