39. Editorial Note
As the war drew to a close, the Committee on Public Information employed numerous means to distribute material in foreign countries. Examples are included in the Online Supplement.
Appendix A.7 is a “catalog insert supplied to American firms” for inclusion in U.S. commercial catalogs shipped abroad. Although the sample is undated, it is attached to an October 1918 report from Edward Bernays, Foreign Section, Committee on Public Information. (National Archives, RG 63, Entry 105, Director’s Office of the Foreign Section, General Correspondence, Box 16, Poole—Report Sept 1918)
Appendix A.8 is a pamphlet version of President Woodrow Wilson’s September 27, 1918, speech in New York on the League of Nations. It was sent to Director of the Foreign Section, Committee on Public Information, Edgar Sisson under cover of an October 7 letter from Frank J. Marion, Committee for Public Information Commissioner in Spain. Marion wrote: “We made a rush job of the President’s speech on The League of Nations and got it out in pamphlet form, 5000 copies, [Page 79] and distributed it to the atheneums, schools, libraries, officials etc. of Spain within four days of its delivery. It was our first effort at pamphleting and I think it was a good start. Am sending you copies under another cover. We have the country covered with pictures of the President—very timely just now.” (National Archives, RG 63, Entry 105, Director’s Office of the Foreign Section, General Correspondence, Box 19, Attention of Mr. Sisson) For the text of Wilson’s speech, see Foreign Relations, 1918, Supplement 1, The World War, volume I, pages 316–321.
Appendix A.9 is a portrait of Wilson created for distribution in Italy. It is attached to an October 18 letter from Henry Atwater, Director of the Division of Production and Distribution, Committee on Public Information, to Associate General Director of the Foreign Section, Committee on Public Information, Carl Byoir. (National Archives, RG 63, Entry 105, Director’s Office of the Foreign Section, General Correspondence, Box 3, Atwater-Donald Lee Oct 18–Mar 19)
Appendix A.10 is an article published in the Swedish newspaper Socialdemokraten on October 18. It was forwarded by Eric Palmer, Committee on Public Information Commissioner in Sweden, to Sisson on October 19. Palmer wrote: “I enclose herewith Mr. Henry von Kramer’s first article on his visit to France, where he was sent by Compub at my suggestion.
“This is a rather remarkable article and I recommend that it be used in the United States as the impression of a wellknown Swedish journalist, with the further distinction of being stepson to Hjalmar Branting. The material can also be used in Compub service to other countries.
“I am arranging to distribute the von Kramer article throughout Sweden in places where the Socialdemokraten does not reach.
“Copies of the von Kramer article are also going to Mr. Björkman.” (National Archives, RG 63, Entry 105, Director’s Office of the Foreign Section, General Correspondence, Box 21, V)