Evening star., 1942-10-08
Discusses New Meanings
Of Propaganda Campaign

To the Editor Of The Star:
Until recently the wore"propaganda"
commonly was used to de:ribe doctrines
peddled by quacks al charlatans.
Missionaries trailing cloud Of glory, art
full purveyors of phony tuses, and the
lunatic fringe generally vere popularity
referred to as propagandfs. But under
the impact of those conf1ting ideologies
now struggling for worl mastery this
word is undergoing mtation as fiat
tering as it was once elerogatory.
In the language of polital journalism.
as we'll as in pronoun0ments issuing
from high Government aencies, propa-
g6nda now is term consnant with the
activities of a sane and ;lfless patriot
ism. 1t has not only cased to imply
derision and abuse but, lnder the exi-
gencies Of war for susdval, has even
come to enjoy official lnction as an
instrument of national policy. For
under the impressive tie of cultural
affairs" it is now gead to decisive
phases of the war progral incidentally.
this tardy recognition offs value as an
instrument of statecraft, ,espeaks Uncle
Sans further sophisticabn as a global
power.
European publicists hae long appre-
ciated the potency of Propaganda in
the conduct of public fairs. This is
attested by the conside cable body of
literature devoted to i, theory and
practice. In the totalitrian halls of
learning it is dignifed nth the status
of an independent scierific discipline,
vital to the life of thestate. This is
seen in the various mini<ies of propa-
ganda whose functionarie are dedicated
to its exploitation on a prld scale
Propaganda as an I1attained ma
turity earlier in Europi Its growth
doubtless was fostered y the rise of
those intense economic nationalisms
which constantly hedevi the political
life of the Old World. IN a continent
so fraught with nationaI rivalries, and
contracted in space. it knot surprising
that it should develop technique OF
great and malefic: compl<ity. Its more
brilliant practitioners inn lriably become
the darlings of ambitiou governments.
In the chancelleries I the Fascist
world, propaganda ofnciaA Is designated
as spiritual warfare" nder this au-
gust title it interlaces VERY military.
economic and political offhsive. It aims,
according to Ludendorf, ITO touch the
life and soul of every bember of the
belligerent nations" Ills Is accom-
plished by employing II the devices
known to the press, raR, cinema and
diplomacy. As a scoun4rforce against
these of1ensives we hav in the Once
OF War Information the recently estab.
nshed division Of psychQhgical warfare.
In the grand strategy {spiritual war
fare there is no room I'll on-combat-
ants. The universally Y its scope Is
denned by the Nazi tacthan. DR.. Blau.
"as the strengthening OF 1brale at home,
the destruction OF moral in the enemy
country, and the manipu4ion of public
! opinion throughout the tprld in favor
/ OF the home country" Hese detectives
are generally launche9 under such
euphemistic slogans &b Lebensraum,
Greater Asia co-Prospert Sphere. the
New Order. Herrenvolk. ac.
|. The material results ofthese spiritual
campaigns ultimately MI expression in
the total immolation OF &cient cultures;
IN m instructive essay cul public Art and
Architecture" appearin4ln the current
Issue of the Yale Revie John Afford
1 -. II
conmanded the utter destruction Of
Polish architectural n4uments @ I
hIe8 % tn national I'D Wllnam u