The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1920-01-13

That Germany is as incapable of learning any
thing as of forgetting anything is shown by the
lachrymose proclamation addressed from Berlin TO
the Teutons in the territories separated from the
Fatherand by the last Treaty of Versailles
In pledging herself to hold in perpetual memory
the brothers and sisters to whom she bids long
farewell she indicates reciprocal duty on their
part, as follows:-"You will not forget your com
mon German Fatherland-or that we are yours
So those who go and those who stay are to work
together to preserve 1.-THE mother language, the
German character and the inward spiritual union
All this may seem simple enough to some as an
example of Teutonic sentmentalism But others,
looking at it in the light of past events viii see at
once that right here is suggestion for revival
Of the familiar vicious form Of propaganda and
intrigue which enabled Wilhelm Hohenzollern and
his servants to prepare for the great war, the re-
suits of which still plague humanity.
Even down to the visit to New York of Prince
Henry of Prussia the Germans resented the pres
ence here, as American citizens, Of men-with
their Observation-Disclosures had repudiated Prussia,
Prussian monarchy and Prussian political ideals
in 1AS. Indeed, it was with difficulty that the
Kaiser's brother was persuaded to review the
German societies of the city. Yet from that time
the greatest efforts were made on the part Of
imperial emissaries to spread a new doctrine,
based on German legal enactment, for foreign use.
According to this, German living in America.
Great Britain or France-in the latter case if he
could persuade the authorities that he came from
Alsace or Lorraine-was encouraged to adopt the
citizenship of the country Of his residence. But
did he thereby renounce allegiance to Wilhelm III. ?
Only from the lips out! When he took the oath
he did so with mental reservation, based on the
fact that the Empire refused to let him go. He be-
came an "American"-save the mark!-without
ceasing to be German.
Hence came into existence the most dangerous
form Of double allegiance. Men who had two
countries-the one of their supposed or pretended
adoption the other of their orign-were true only
to the second. Their new citizenship was dis
guise, and even the ballot deposited in the box on
furthering the interests and carrying out the
schemes, of foreign government of foreign plans
and policies.
This modern working method-a cancer in the
body polite of the United States and other coun-
tries which had not vet discovered the extent of
Germanic duplicity-was the opposite to the old
policy. For example, Germans who focked into
Western Russia from the time of Peter the Great
on remained distinct from the population around
them. They formed plantation" which did not
merge into its environment
Now, even in defeat complaining about her de-
fenceless condition and the failure of her con-
querors to grant her "self determination" Ger
many clings to the method of peaceful penetra-
ton which was to have helped her to conquer the
world. But the world has learned the lesson in the
hard school Of experence--the only one for the
will never forget it