GERMAN PROPAGANDA
SIR,—I think that many of your readers will have read with astonishment your statement that " in the field of diplomatic warfare," as represented by our news and propaganda abroad, " we are pretty definitely being beaten by Germany," and your supporting comments must have amazed them. Germany can only beat us in this field if she is convincing neutrals that
her cause is a good one and that what her leaders have stated to be the origins of the War are true. Is there any evidence that she is succeeding in this respect?
You go on to state that although the Nazis provide lies for home consumption, " that is anything but true of foreign countries." So Ribbentrop's recent Danzig speech broadcast to the world was not, after all, lies, nor Hitler's " peace offer " speech ; and Churchill did sink the Athenia '; the `Ark Royal' is at the bottom of the sea ; we did supply Poland with gas ; that country was the aggressor, not Germany, and German airmen kept strictly to military objects in the War against that country. All that, and much, much more, has been sedulously supplied to foreign countries by Germany as authentic news.
What is going to matter in the final count? Is it the amount of stuff—good, bad and indifferent—that is being sent out to feed the gaping maw of a world avid for the spectacular and dramatic, or such a reputation for truth and moderation that what is sent out is accepted without doubt or cavil? You say that " a good case, given a fair hearing, will drive out a bad." But surely the whole world by now knows what our case is and knows that it is a good one, and equally surely, no matter how " effectively . . . the German case is being stated today " (as you say it is) it cannot make a good case of it nor convince the world that it is a good case. What do you mean, therefore, by its being " effectively stated "?
I have admired your courage in publishing criticisms of your editorials. I hope you will publish this one.—Yours faith-
fully, H. G. LYALL. The Hazels, Mount Pleasant Lane, Bricket Wood, via Watford, Hens.
[Herr von Ribbentrop's speech was, as we said last week (and as the Rome wireless also said), obviously designed for consumption in Germany ; how far it was broadcast outside Germany there is no means of knowing ; Germany can influence neutrals not merely by persuading them that her cause is good, but by persuading them of her power. It is in that field that she is outdoing us, partly, no doubt, but by no means wholly, by disseminating lies.—ED. The Spectator.]
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