"OPEN LETTER.
New York, —, 1915.
Dr, HUGO KIRBACR, Recording Secretary, German University League, New York.
DEAR am in receipt of your letter requesting me, as a
former student in certain German Universities, to join the German University League in the United States, the object of which is to
• unite and take the lead in spreading the truth and in under- standing of German aims' in view of the 'conflict now being waged against Germany by vastly superior numbers.'
You are right in thinking that, as such a student in and of Germany, I am not unqualified to speak of German aims; and also that I RD1 desirous of spreading the truth. Consequently, I send you the following expression of my opinion, which has been reached after full deliberation, and in spite of early prejudgments in favour of Germany, due to my stay there and to my friendship for many German scholars during a long academic career.
1. As to the truth :—In my opinion, the truth is that no country was ever more fully bound by the duty of bringing 'vastly superior numbers' against another country than were England, France, and Russia against Germany and Austria. The diplomatic exchanges preceding the war show, on the part of Germany, shameful dis- honesty, cynicism, and blackmail. The gage of war, finally flung down by Germany, could not have been refused by any self- respecting or honest people. France and Russia were under both the duty and the necessity of fighting. England was under the duty only—a duty to Belgium and to civilization. All the more honour to England that she accepted the duty although not under the nocessityi 2. A further truth :—Germany has conducted the war as a national bandit and pirate, taking advantage, in every instance, of the chivalry and high honour of her opponents. Her methods have been those of official vandalism. She has placed herself outside the pale of all possible sympathy on the part of those 'hose culture is not that of the primitive savage. The appeal to American scholars and teachers is itself an affront. These men are in the front rank of those who keep alive the fires of moral enthusiasm, who seek to maintain the integrity of humane and Christian ideals, who are responsible for public opinion, and the moulding of youth. Their response is Shame on you and your house ! That German professors of morals and of true science can 'justify' Gorman methods of warfare and German ends, as revealed by these methods, causes a shock from which the body of American university men will never recover. In their eyes, the moral debacle of Germany seems to be in sight.
3. And yet another truth :—The aims and the procedure of a group of Germans in the United States, with whom you are likely to be confused, are becoming noxious to all good Americans. Study in Germany has not made us less patriotic as Americans or as lovers of Anglo-Saxon ideals : we wore not made in Germany.' We are beginning to demand that the made-in-Germany brand of scholar, journalist, • or politician be repudiated ; and that those who exploit it, using the United States as a base for an unneutral and unpatriotic propaganda, be given their passports (German passports, not forged American ones !). Led by the German Ambassador, whose early activities would have justified the demand for his recall, carried on by means of newspapers, circulars, and public harangues, it is not strange that the cam- paign has reached the stage indicated by the bomb, the incendiary fire, the political plot. These Germans are traitors to their adopted country. Our people have shown to them a toleration equal to their contempt for them. But all good citizens of German birth should make haste to join with other Americans—those to whom I write with those who would write as I do—to protest against this abuse of our generosity. Germans living hero must have a care that in future the term German-A.merican be not synonymous with the terms intrigue and disloyalty. Certain it is that a very large body of Americans look with distrust upon Germans—even those who are naturalized in tho -United States—whose patriotism has not had some adequate proof. The first task your organisa- tion should undertake is that of exposing German treachery to the laws of the United States. You would thus lift from the German-Americans the opprobrium that is likely to be a serious element of discomfort to them in the future.
4. As to the German aims, which you wish to have set forth— they are clear enough. The word Pan-Germanism defines them; and the war has placed Pan-Gerraanism sufficiently on record. The aims issue from the means adopted, and the means are foul enough : violation of public and private right, destruction of the high monuments of human aspiration, lying official statementa suited to the consumer's needs, brazen bluff of unheard-of crudity, reckless bravado typified by the floating mine and the submarine set to destroy the innocent and the weak. I myself know of instances of devilish atrocity, reflecting an official system of procedure. The 'Hymn of Hate' is performed at the table of the Emperor! The end to be reached by such means, say apologists for Germany, is the universal spread of the culture whose hand holds such weapons as this, A German victory would destroy for generations all hope of a peaceful settlement of the problems of world politics —problems, moreover, in the treatment of which a strain of barbarism has been kept alive until now by reason of the rise of modern military Germany.
These are, briefly stated, ray dear Sir, my views as to the truth about Germany and as to her aims. I trust, if your desire for the co-operation of American professors who have studied in German universities be sincere, you will give to them the publicity accorded to those of others whose opinions may be different from mine and more in accord with your own.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) J. MARK BALDWIN, Ph.D., D.Sc., LL.D., Lately President Intern. Congress of Psychology; Correspondent of the Institute of Franoe. eta; Former Student at berlin. Leipzio, and Freiburg...
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