enemy propaganda, to strengthen German influence, to spread the knowledge of the German language and science, to make known Germany's services and her real method, and to establish and cultivate sound and useful connexions in economic, social, literary, and scientific spheres. These ends, it is further stated, are to be achieved by the distribution of the El Heraldo de Hamburgo' and 'La Cultura Latino-Americana,' the issue of works on special subjects in Spanish and Portuguese, the extension of the German book-trade, the subsidising of the native Press, the intercourse with institutes and officials, and the appointment of confidential agents; also by persuading South Americans to visit Germany for professional and technical instruction or for pleasure, promoting intercourse with them at Hamburg, and spreading the study of the Latin languages in Germany.

The German Economic Union for South and Central America (Deutscher Wirtschaftsverband für Sud- und Mittelamerika), Berlin, is run on much the same lines. The Union is associated with the German-Argentine Central Association for the Promotion of Economic Interests (Deutsch-Argentinischer Zentralverband für Förderung wirtschaftlicher Interessen), the President of which is Herr Waetge, a wool-merchant; and the GermanBrazilian Commercial Association (Deutsch-Brasilianischer Handelsverband), the President of which is Herr G. Maschke. These gentlemen, with Dr B. Dernburg, are the Presidents of the German Economic Union for South and Central America; and on its committee sit representatives of the Deutsche Ueberseeische Bank and the Deutsche Bank für Südamerika.

Within the limits of this article it is impossible to give full particulars of all the German propagandist societies, but enough has been said to show what an enormous amount of trouble they have taken, and what vast sums they must have expended. The entire world has, through the agency of these institutions, been told that Germany is the greatest country in the world, the Germans the most wonderful people in the world, and German Kultur the last note in civilisation. Wherever you go, in neutral countries, you will find a paper uttering the most violent pro-German sentiments; and, if

you are behind the scenes, you can with little difficulty estimate what the expression of these sentiments costs the Fatherland.

The United States, China, and the republics of Central and South America, in particular, have been wooed persistently-with what result the whole world knows. China, the United States, Cuba, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Brazil have declared war on Germany; Bolivia, Honduras, and Nicaragua have severed diplomatic relations. How great a blow this must be, can be imagined from the fact that, at the first annual meeting of the German Economic Union for South and Central America, held at Berlin, Sept. 1, 1915, Herr G. Maschke, President of the German-Brazilian Commercial Association, stated that 'South and Central America are our greatest assets overseas.'

Evidence that Germany for some time past has been realising the comparative futility of these propagandist efforts is to be found in the declaration by Herr Waetge, President of the German-Argentine Central Association for the Development of Economic Interests, at the annual meeting of that society, Dec. 15, 1915, that the report of the work done, which he had just read to the members, must not be published because 'our enemies, especially England, closely watch our activities and seek to counteract them.' The third annual report of the German-American Commercial Association, published on Oct. 1, 1916, is more frankly pessimistic.

'In reviewing the past, account must be taken of the extraordinary obstacles presented by the continuance of the war to commerce between Germany and the United States,' so runs a passage in that report. England's disregard of all written and unwritten rules of international law has introduced a state of anarchy into international trade relations, which no one before the war would have supposed even theoretically possible. German firms trading with America have remained for months without news of their business friends there. Robbery of the post has become a daily institution; the possibility of trade has been reduced to a minimum; and only a small part of the former exchange of goods between the two mighty nations can be maintained.'

This is pleasant reading for English readers, who, if

they wanted heartening, will be cheered by the knowledge that Germany itself admits that, in spite of her long-prepared schemes, her commerce has been hit much harder than they supposed 'even theoretically possible.' Light is also thrown on the German mind, and its strange limitations. Germany may break treaties, and commit atrocities of all kinds, but it was unthinkable that England should interfere with German trade. Commercial relations being at a standstill for the time being, the German-American Association states in the same report that it is

'making preparations for reconstruction after the conclusion of peace; that, in particular, great attention is being devoted to the New York organisation; and that every effort must be made to unite all groups interested in German commercial relations with the United States, so as to be in a position, when the time comes, without financial hindrance, to realise our projects by well-planned and energetic action.'

Within a few months of this utterance an American Admiral was in temporary command of the British fleet off the coast of Ireland, American troops were cooperating in the field with the Allies, and American factories were working day and night to assist in the overthrow of Germany. All the mean little tricks and quibbles, all the underhand devices, all the elaborate tissue of false representations have been blown away as by a draught of fresh air.

LEWIS MELVILLE,

Art. 6.—AMERICA'S FIRST YEAR OF WAR.

It is a common saying in America, and a true saying, that in no previous war undertaken by the United States has public opinion been so united as it has become since April 6, 1917. In the Revolutionary War the 'Loyalists' nearly equalled the 'Patriots' in numbers; and, while lack of organisation deprived them of the means of effectively opposing the movement for independence, they were strong enough to give to the Revolution many of the aspects of a civil war. In the War of 1812 the disaffection of New England was notorious; and in the Mexican War of 1818, disapproval of the objects of the war and distrust of the motives of the Administration found vigorous expression in many parts of the country. In the Civil War the North was by no means a unit; and in the War with Spain, while popular enthusiasm was at a white heat during the brief period of hostilities, there were many men of prominence and ability who denounced the war as imperialistic.

Opposition to American participation in the present war came, a year ago, mainly from four sources-the German part of the population, which still sympathised with Germany; a minority of the Irish element, whose antagonism to England determined its position on all international questions; the Pacifists, whose abhorrence of war was so great that it obscured their distinction between right and wrong; and the Socialists, whose organisation had fallen into the hands of those who were working in German interests.

During the past year the opposition from these sources has been rendered ineffective, and has greatly diminished in intensity. Among the German-Americans, sympathy with the present Government of Germany, with its aims and methods, has declined, until it is not too much to say that the average German-American is entirely loyal to the United States in its present conflict, without however being aroused to any great degree of enthusiasm. The German press, now required to print its editorial articles in English as well as in German, shows an increasing support of the Administration, and in some instances, at least, accepts the military defeat of the Central Powers

as necessary to the future safety of the world. Prominent German-Americans have given the cause of the United States and its allies their whole-hearted support; and from their lips have come some of the most vigorous denunciations of the German Government and of the spirit which dominates Germany, that have appeared.

During the past year there has been noticeable a breaking-up of organisations and institutions designed to foster the traditions, language, and Kultur of Germany, which tended to keep the German-Americans a separate element in the population. Apart from the various groups, passing under different and rapidly changing names, such as the American Truth Society, the Embargo Conference, Labour's Peace Council, and many others, which were but thinly disguised agencies of German war propaganda, and whose activities, once America had entered the war, were clearly seditious, older and more respectable societies, which had been agencies for German propaganda in times of peace, have disappeared. The largest and most influential of these, the GermanAmerican Alliance, which indeed had been guilty of endeavouring to influence elections in favour of Germany, has recently, and during the course of a searching Congressional enquiry into its methods and motives, voted its own dissolution. German propaganda in the schools, under the guise of teaching the German language, has met with a severe check. In many localities, the study of German has been dropped from the school curricula; and everywhere there has been a decrease of fifty per cent. or more in the number of those electing to study German, while there has been an almost corresponding increase in the number of pupils studying French and Spanish. Throughout the country all things German are increasingly unpopular; and, while there is not that blazing hatred of Germany, that would be the inevitable result of the extension of German war practices to American shores, there is a growing detestation of what Germany represents, and an increasing desire to crush for ever the German 'thing' that has driven the United States into the greatest undertaking in its history.

As the old forms of German propaganda disappear, new forms, with an opposite purpose, are springing up. Thus an organisation of Friends of German Democracy