Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-29

Washington, d. c., Sept. 26.-Nov-
elists could we'll afford to withdraw
their attention from abroad and con-
centrate on Washington for material
for those thrilling stories of espion-
age and political intrigue which the
public so eagerly devours. For q long
time, the popular novelist has de-
lighted to let hts characters get into
all kinds of scrapes and have hair
breadth escapes and discover impor-
tant secrets Of state in such places
as Geneva, PetroErad, Monte Carlo.
and Rome. They could do; just az
well at Washington. t1 S:a.. *&
Since the war, Washington has be-
come in a certain sense the capital of
the world. With all nations looking
to the United States as the leader Of
international activity our national
capital has taken on increased inn
portance. - ~ ~ s
Washington as a headquarters for
diplomatic activity has long had con-
siderable vogue, but never so much
as at present. The increased business
Of this character started with the war
when the propagandists and diplo-
mats. special commissioners and plen-
ipotentiaries Of all principal nations
came here IS steel is drawn to a mag
net. Nearly all of them nave stayed
and ply their trade as diligently as
ever.
The treaty of Versailles provided
for several new states in pursuance
Of the doctrine Of elf-determination
which President Wilson Introduced
at the peace table. All of these ma
tons were born in turmoil and have
been encountering difficulties in hold
{~~ $h4{r ho nd -u,oV,4 II ortftx- r. HZa " .
The opinion has become fixed in
Europe that a government can ac-
compNsh almost anything by convinc-
ing the American public of the JUS
tice of its cause. 1t seems that the
whole world bows to the collective
American mind. and, in Consequence,
every effort is made to appeal to that
mind. &
Bureau Supplants Junta.
The foreign Hobbies frequently take
the form Of information bureaus.
Lithunania have bureaus with head
quarters at Washington whence mil
lions Of words of information" are
sent broadcast to the American press
showing the development of each
country, stating its .nationalistic aims
and frequently holding up to~scorn
the conflicting aspirations of other
peoples. The information bureau is
the successor of the old fashioned
diplomatic agency or junta which
used to be in vogue here. ~
There is no doubt that these bu-
reaus make a substantial impression
throughout the country and 1t APP
pears their home governments are
we'll justified in believing that the
American press is as important, IL not
more 50, than the department of
state in connection with American az
fairs
The newspapers in the last year
have had a good deal to say about
the Chita government. 1t will be re-
called that the conference pm the linn
tie attention to this small nation. Of
ficially known as the Far Eastern
Republic. 4, Much OF, this attention, this
world wide publicity, from the
efficiency of the Washington informa-
ton bureau maintained by the Chita
government which at psychological
moments issued statements to the
press or, In other words, to that vague
collective factor, in world affairs, the
American mind. !,
The development has gone SO far
that several of the old established
embassies maintain on their diplom-
matte stats. highly trained newspa-
per correspondents. sometimessthese
are brought from the home countries
and have such impressive titles as
PRESS Attache. More frequently they
ARE American Journalists employed
In this country. It is the general
opinion that the best results are, OBJ
tanned from the American newspaper
man because he Is more familiar with
the American mind and knows more
accurately how y canb best be appeal-
ed to.
All readers Of American newspa-
pers have seen q great deal OF agita-
ton concerning Philippine Independ-
ence This springs largely from the
information bureau maintained DIT the
expense OF the taxpayers Of the Phil
|ippine Islands, for the sole purpose OF
|teiling Americans about. the Phillip
pines and constantly presenting argu-
lments for independence.
Work Of Irish Nationalists.
The Irish Nationalists have main
tanned such 3 bureau here for years
and many observers believe that Ire
lands Independence resulted In part