Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1918 — U. S. WARNS OF FOE PROPAGANDA TO SOFTEN PEACE [ARTICLE]

U. S. WARNS OF FOE PROPAGANDA TO SOFTEN PEACE

Hun Agents Active Throughout Nation, Says Department of Justice. TOHGHTTHEPROPAGANDISTS Enemies Take Cue From Official Pleas From Germany for Leniency In Armistice and Final Peace Terms. Washington, Nov. 19.—Government agents see evidences that German propaganda machinery in the United States is being put in working order again to promote sentiment of leniency toward Germany in peace terms. Consequently, department of justice officials warned that the public should remain watchful against resumption ®f organized propaganda by lnterests«formerly actively pro- z Gernian, and for the last year passive. Concerted movement is apparent, officials say, in utterances of many, individuals, a few organizations formerly active for German interests, and some newspapers. There is no organized leadership, it is believed, but local interests have taken their cue from official pleas from Germany for leniency in armistice and final peace terms. To Fight Propagandists. The interest of the government agents combatting enemy propaganda at this time is not to suppress free expression of opinion, it is explained, but to fight any concert of propagandists whose purpose would be to confound the authorized spokesmen of the nation in forthcoming peace negotiations. Officials say during the reconstruction period, there may be considerable danger from’ enemy propaganda working to make the nation forget Germany’s course during the war. Illustrating the attitude that the war and its dangers are not yet over, it is stated that department of justice agencies have o’rdered the internment of some .Germans since the armistice was signed a week ago. Huns Active in Mexico. Official reports show German representatives in various parts of the world still actively engaged in spreading propaganda to create and enhance feeling of hostility toward the United States and the allied countries. Eckhardt, the notorious German ambassador at Mexico City, again Is reported doing his utmost to make Mexico hostile to the United States and is able to have misleading articles published in the semiofficial Mexican papers. Recently he had published throughout Mexico that the - German army had not been defeated .and that the German navy was still fighting the allied navies.