CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 147

MEMORANDUM ON PROPAGANDA.

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The Propaganda Committee preset the following enor Propaganda, for the information of the Committee of the Chamber of

Commerce.

The Memorandum is divided into three parts:-

1. A brief historical introduction.

2. An account of the work setually done by the Propaganda

Committee.

3. Some suggestions for the conduct of Propaganda in the

1.

future in the interests of British Trade.

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.

The manner in which Germany conducted its Press Campaign

in China is now of merely academic interest, but it may be useful

to have the following facts on record:-

As soon as it became certain that war would be declared the German Press mas mobilised for war purposes and was placed under the direction ofthe War Prese Bureau” which had its head- -quarters at 314. Luisenstrasse, Berlin. This bureau was under the direct control of the High Command.

A section was appointed to deal with the Far East called the "Zentralstelle fur Auslandsdienst" and this section WAS at one time under the direction of Freiherr von Mumm, who had been

Minister at Tokyo.

This section was under the direct control of the Foreign Office but also like every other department in Germany was ultimate -ly under the control of the High Command.

Various oriental committees were appointed at Berlin, Zurich and Constantinople which were closely associated with the "Zentralatelle fur Auslandsdienst",

In China Propaganda appears to have beendirected from the German Legation at Peking, but the main printing was done at 33, Nanking Boad, Shanghai.

The