Page:The Newspaper and the Historian.djvu/413

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to secure the recognition of independence of disaffected or revo lutionary states or to win popular support of national causes.29 Stem rebukes were administered by cabinet officers to firms that in their advertisements of poisonous, acid -loaded shells “ draw a picture of human misery as a means of earning a profit through

the sale of machines to produce it.” 30 To the advertisement has been given the credit of so influencing public opinion in Germany

as to bring about national unity .31 Even the domestic advertisement is not exempt from the danger of libel suits incurred through its statements and from

misstatements and misunderstandings that call for explanation and apology .32 situation horrible. Over forty thousand men already deported for military works, amid awful scenes. Number proposed three hundred thousand . Please get influential friends start strong campaign opinion which might

prevent extensive slave raid . I implore your help in name humanity and honour mankind.” (Signed) Chevalier Carton de Wiart . 29 The recognition of Lithuania and of Ukrainia was sought through

advertisements; the Friends of Irish Freedom and the Russian Economic League appealed for support through advertisements .

The Japan Society was organized in 1907 and in 1916 advertised in the New York papers its desire to give the public “ a proper conception of the aims and ideals , the inspirations and aspirations of this newly 'western

ized' island empire whose social, industrial and economic progress has amazed the world .”

30 Letters of Secretary Redfield , daily press, July 19, 20, 1915 . The advertisement as it appeared in the American Machinist, May 6 , 1915 , threatened to lead to international entanglements , but the investiga tions of the Department of Commerce showed that the advertisement related , not to themanufacture of poisonous shells, which would have been

a contravention of the Hague convention , but to that of machinery to be used in such production . — New York Times, June 25, 1915 . The advertisement was included , without apparent appropriateness, by

F . Avenarius in his Das Bild als Verleumder and attention was directed to

the peculiarly offensive features of the advertisement, while the comple mentary illustration of the machine itself was omitted . P . 56

31 C . H . Whitaker , in an article under the headlines, “ Great advertising man led Germany to war. By an unparalleled publicity campaign , using many mediums, he advertised Germany to the Germans until they held

views he wished ," describes the use of the advertisement in influencing public opinion in Germany. - New York TimesMagazine, September 5 , 1915 .

32 The New Republic , March 25 , 1916 , carried an advertisement of Harper 's Weekly that asked leading questions in regard to a recent American Ambas sador and promised the answers to them in a forthcoming article. In its issue of July 22 , 1916 , the editors copy the original advertisement and add :

“ The foregoing was published as a matter of business routine. It is needless

to say that it was not intended by The New Republic as a reflection in any way upon the official or personal conduct of Mr. . . . The New Republic