The New York herald., 1922-04-19
c. E. RUSSELL FINDS
HISTORIES BRITISH
Believes Carnegie Backed Cam
paign for Revision Of
School Texts.

SuaricS E<uWdru fturSNit @'N1s's NtN
controversy over school his:o-.es yes
terday. becoming the principal witness
in the reopening OF the investigation
by David Hirshheid. Commissioner OF
Accounts, into the alleged pio-British
character OF many OF the textbooks ~
use in the public schools.
Mr.. Russell declared that his ohserva-
tions during and since his visit 20 Eng
land in an Official capacity fo- The Gov
ernment several years ago had con-
vinced him that there is ,frcerted
campaign to bring about a closer al
lance between Great Britain and
America and that the belittiing OF the
American Revolution and tas War OF
1912 in the schools was par. Of this
propaganda.
The name of the American Book
Company portrayed by one or tie Wit
nesses as a great monopoly controlling
90 per cent. OF the school books used
In American schools was also brought
into the inquiry. Commissioner Hirsh-
field said he understood" that u was
really British corporation"
Carnegie ssympathetic."
.The matter OF school histories first
..twenty years ago when / was city
editor of one OF the New York news
papers. An Englishnnan came into my
office and expressed the opinion that
the views Of the American Revolution
as set forth in histories created feel
ing of antagonism against England and
made cooperation between the two coun-
tries impossible, and suggested that we
commence campaign for the revision
Of these texts.
IT declined to participate In the cam
paign and few months later was
surprised to see that Andrew Carnegie
started a movement along the same
lines, and then l knew my friend had
found sympathetic listener"
WAS that when Mr.. Carnegie was
still wearing kilts?" inquired Commis-
sioner Hirshfield.
1T think he was wearing them during
the summer at Skibo Castle" replied
Mr.. Russell with smile.
From then on. Mr.. Russell said, the
movement made progress and he no.
ticed that In each successive revision
of the histories less attention was paid
to the American Revolution and to the
people who took part in it. "A few
years later" he said, Il was astounded
to see that the War OF 1912 was either
practically ignored or declared entirely
unjustiied.''
In 1918 Mr.. Russell was in England
as Commissioner of Public Information
for the United States Government. and
In this capacity, he said. he came into
close contact with British officials.
ssHoIding Back Democracy"
"The leading thought of all English
men in those days was q stronger al
lance between Great Britain and Amer
ica after the war;" he said, "and there
was scarcely a day that passed that
some one didn't approach me on this
subject. One of the authors OF par
tlcularly pro- British text book arrived
at that time and was socially lionized
and given the highest honors at Ok
ford as a reward for his views, although
he had never attracted a great deal OF
attention in this country
IF tho revisionists succeed in wiping
out the records of the American Revolu-
tion they will hold back the progress OF
mankind many centuries he said. ut
Is Of Importance to England that the
rising tide of democracy be checked,
and II they can do this by eliminating
the source of inspiration 1t will be SO
much to their advantage"
Commissioner HirshfieId wanted to
know who was financing the propa-
ganda and mentioned the Rockefeller
interests" Mr.. Russell didn't know who
was back of the alleged scheme, but
thought 1T must be financed by some
body" He suspected that international
bankers had strong interest in the
subject, and cited the theory that in
order to control the worlds finances
there must be created feeling of CO.
operation among the peoples of the re-
spective nations.
was told in England that there were
22o individuals engaged in propaganda
work over here ostensibly for war pur-
poses, but actually engaged In fostering
the Angio-American alliance" he said.
AS an example OF the widespread
British interest he told OF having been
~ Pctrograd in July. 1917, and suggest
ing that a Fourth of July celebration
be arranged for the American residents
This idea was discouraged, he said. by
q man close to the Rockefeller interests,
because 1t might antagonize 1.-The British
subjects" You will observe, Mr.. Com
missioner" he added, that there has
been steady decline In the Fourth OF
July celebrations in this country"
George E. Morrison, former news
paper man OF Detroit, suggested that
the Commissioner make an investigation
OF the influence exerted in sohoolbook
circles by the American Book Company.
senator Truman Newberry was heavily
interested in this corporation, he said,
and men who were said to be agents Of
this company had been mixed up In sew
eral educational scandals in the West.
The hearing was adjourned without
date being set for a subsequent meet