The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-04
TOPEKA. STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC ). HASKIN. Director.
Washington. D. O.
SECRET AGENTS IN WASHINGTON

Washington, D. c., Oct. 2.-Novei-
lists could well afford to withdraw
their attention from abroad and con-
centrate on Washington for material
for those thrilling stories of espionage
and political intrigue which the pub
lie so eagerly devours. For long
time, the popular novelist has de-
lighted to let his characters get into
all kinds of scrapes and have hair
breadth escapes and discover impor-
tant secrets of state in such places as
Geneva, Petrograd, Monte Carlo, and
Rome. They could do just as well at
Washington.
Since the war Washington has be-
como 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 i'm
portance.
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 pleni-
potentiaries of all principal nations
came here as steel is drawn to a
magnet Nearly all of them have
stayed and ply their trade as dill
gently as ever.
The treaty of Versailles provided
for several new states in pursuance
of the doctrine of self-determination
which President Wilson introduced at
the peace table. All of these nations
were born in turmoil and have been
encountering difficulties in holding
their hard-won identity.
The opinion has become fixed in
Europe that a government can &C
complish almost anything by convinc-
ing the American pubic of the justice
of its cause. 1t seems that the whole
world bows to the collective American
mind and, in consequence, every eff
fort is made to appeal to that mind.
Bureau Supplants Junta.
The foreign Hobbies frequently take
the form of information bureaus.
Such countries as Esthonia, Latvia,
Lithuania 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 PEG
pies. The information bureau is the
successor of the old fashioned diplo-
matte agency or junta which used to
be in vogue here.
There is no doubt that these bu-
reauS make a substantial impression
thruout the country and it appears
their home governments are well JUS
titled in believing that the American
press is as important, if not more so,
than the department of state in con-
nection with American affairs
The newspapers in the last year
have had a good deal to say about
the Chita government. 1t will be re
itation of ornaments devoted no lit
tie attention to this small nation, Of
ficially known as the far eastern re-
public. Much of this attention, this
world wide publicity. arose from the
efficiency of the Washington infor-
nation bureau maintained by the
Chita government which at psychology
ical 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 en-
bassies maintain on their diplomatic
staffs, highly trained newspaper cor
respondents. Sometimes these are
brought from the home countries and
have such impressive titles as Press
Attache. More frequently they are
American journalists employed in this
country. 1t is the general opinion
that the best results are obtained from
the American newspaper man because
he is more familiar with the American
mind and knows more accurately how
it can best be appealed to.
All readers of American newspapers
have seen great deal of agitation
concerning Philippine independence.
This springs largely from the Informal
ton bureau maintained at the eX-
pense of the taxpayers of the Philip
pine Islands for the sole purpose of
telling Americans about the Philip
| pines and constantly presenting argu-
| ments for independence.
Work of Irish Nationalist.
The Irish nationalists have main
| tanned such q bureau here for years
and many observers believe that Ire
| lands independence resulted in part
from the activities of this bureau in
converting the American mind.
| Half the Latin American govern
| mentS use this method OF presenting
themselves to the public. 1t has been
said that when a new minister comes
to Washington from a Central or
South American country his first act
| is to get press agent. Sometimes
these are kept in the background but
| frequently the press agent is Haunted
as a regular part of the esla blishment
Of legation of embassy.
| In other words, the foreign gov
ernments not only send special mini
listers and ambassadors to the gov
ernments of the United States; they
also send special ambassadors in the
form of press agents to the American
mind.
Many fascinating stories of the
diplomatic battles which are fought
out by these press representatives and
information bureaus could be told and
back of their activities there are many
| incidents romantic and interesting
enough to vie with the best stories of
I international spies.
The order of things has not changed
wholly and there remain some of the
old fashioned and highly romantic
secret agents. 1t must be borne in
mind that in about half of the smaller
| Latin American republics there is a
party of malcontents which is always
| seeking an opportunity TO obtain
power. In this country when a party
lis out of office it seeks to return thru