El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-17

TETAsHDGTON. D. C., March IL
w OF al The evils which have sur
Yivsd the war, none Is so lnsidious in
It's poisonous effects on public opin-
ion round the world as propaganda or
censorship Germany may have been
the master OF this art. but other gov
ernnents abe preparing to go her one
better
One finds in England. for example,
uroparanda attacking the United
States which IS attributable to certain
French sources which a-e most prOmi-
neut in the Paris press in their de-
uunciation OF American proposals,
Certain Italians have conducted
steadily a propaganda for territorial
ciaius. PropaEanda is being fed into
the small countries Of central and
southern Europe whose territorial
status IS IN doubt In some cases It
has been found that one OF our allies
held up food shipments to certain
populations and gave Il TO others &C
companied with a propaganda 10 IN
fluence their political action
The Ribbon Hunters
Paris IS fun OF propagandtsts. and
they are very insidious. Frequently
social attention OF the flattery OF for
eiEn decorations Ribbon hunters" Is
ne title familiarly given by Ameri-
cans 70 those Of their countrymen who
always find something wrong with
what the United States government is
proposing and everything right in the
objections OF foreign governments
While it Is true that many Ameri-
cans who have received decorations
from European governments have not
had thelr perspective atfecteo, there
are those who suddenly become about
50 per cent Americans thereafter.
This. OF course. has no references to
the decorations given for Valor in bat
tie, but applies to those who come to
Europe on missions Of various sorts
and are promptly gwen oeeoratlons ~
foreign governments. whereupon they
are not 60 staunch advocates OF the
American point Of view as they were
before
7 have heard this sort Of 'propa-
Esnda BY decoration" both denounced
and defended. The defenders declare [
that the honor bestowed by the for
eign government is usually IN recog- .
milton Of a breadth Of view BY the
recipient. his willingness 10 subordi- Z
nate an Intense nationalism 20 q de-
sire for reconciliation Unquestion- I
ably. many decorations have been 4
Efven for this purpose, and unQues- /
tionably many men have disreEarued ]
these gifts and stood up for Amer /
ca cause eeF6EL4NG OF LuE uQ4lLE
bestowed upon them, but II is never I
theIess interesting TO note the number I
Of men who let u be known when d
approached that they would rather I
not accept decorations. and Il is inter 4
esting OCCASIONALLY 20 note also the /
effect which u has upon those who I
receive these honors from foreign Z
government
Press Propaganda.
Propaganda through the press, how ]
ever, is the principal weapon Of for I
sign governments. Il IS 50 much IN /
evidence in Europe with certain types
Of newspapers that writer's on certain I
publications are known TO have in their I
possession confidential documents OF I
their governments negotiations with 4
other governments in order that they 4
might reflect the point Of view de-
sired BY the cabinet In France, where i
a censorship IS maintained. the gov
eminent papers have access TO the I
Eovsrnment's point Of view. Is well as
much important information. and the
twist OF slant on the news sought by