John Galsworthy,
Arnold Bennett
Enoch Arnold Bennett (27 May 1867 – 27 March 1931) was an English author, best known as a novelist. He wrote prolifically: between the 1890s and the 1930s he completed 34 novels, seven volumes of short stories, 13 plays (some in collaboratio ...
, and
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...
.
Using his fame and character, Sir Gilbert Parker flattered the American press with eloquent words and compliments. He called the Americans "fighting people". He also said that "this war will prove them to have everything that they have always had—courage, swiftness if conception, capacity to perform, and a lightning-like directness." His writings essentially "educated" the one source that he knew would reach the majority of Americans. However, he didn't stop there: he continued to spread his "knowledge" by distributing "propaganda material" to American libraries, educational institutions, and periodicals. While focusing on professional establishments he continued to create personal relationships with American elites such as college professors, scientists, doctors, politicians, etc. His method of establishing personal relationships was a landmark later used in other methods of propaganda, "it was the complete and skillful technique later to be developed by many other propagandists, lobbyists, and public relations council."
"Practically since the day war broke out I was responsible for American publicity." Parker played a crucial and significant role in British propaganda during World War I. Due to his strategic marriage to Amy VanTine, reputation as a writer, and social status among the American people, he had established many friendships with influential Americans in all professions. 2 September 1914, Parker was chosen by
Charles Masterman
Charles Frederick Gurney Masterman Privy Council of the United Kingdom, PC (24 October 1873 – 17 November 1927) was a British radical Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Party politician, intellectual and man of letters. He worked closely with such ...
and the British government to head the subdivision of
Wellington House that was responsible for American propaganda. He was unpaid and had no formal title for this role. His goal was to convince America to support the British cause in the war. He worked with the theory that the British cause could not be accomplished through "violent wooing," but must instead be efforts of "gentle and modest courtship."
Methods
His activities at the beginning of World War I included performing a long analysis of the American press and establishing a mailing list based on the American ''
Who's Who''. His mailing list including 260,000 influential Americans as well as public libraries,
Y.M.C.A.'s, Universities, Colleges, clubs, and newspapers.
[Sproule, Michael J. (1997) ''Propaganda and Democracy: The American Experience of Media and Mass Persuasion'', page 7, ]Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it is the oldest university press in the world. It is also the King's Printer.
Cambridge University Pre ...
He sent propaganda literature that was generated by Wellington House to those on his mailing list, but the letters only carried Parker's name, never mentioning Wellington House or the British government. An example of one of his many letters is as follows:
Dear Sir,
I am well aware that American enterprise has made available reprints of the official papers relating to the present European war; but the original British prints of these publications may not be accessible to those persons of influence who would study them for a true history of the conflict. I am venturing to send to you under another cover several of these official documents. I am sure you will not consider this an impertinence, but will realize that Britishers are deeply anxious that their cause may be judged from authoritative evidence.
In common with the great majority of Americans, you have, no doubt, made up your mind as to what country should be held responsible for this tragedy, but these papers may be found useful for reference, and because they contain the incontrovertible facts, I feel that you will probably welcome them in this form.
My long and intimate association with the United States through my writings gives me confidence to approach you, and I trust you will not think me intrusive or misunderstand my motive.
With all respect,
I am,
Yours very truly,
Gilbert Parker
Each publication he sent had a personal letter enclosed in order to portray him as an English patriot performing his duty. His objective was to gain the trust of Americans by appearing friendly and honest. He wrote in a tone that suggested he was a supporter of the British cause, but desired to promote international understanding, and that he was open to hearing all viewpoints. This tactic convinced many Americans that their role in the war was important, and many sympathized with the British cause as a result of his efforts.
Outcome
Parker continued his propaganda efforts up until the year the United States entered the war, 1917. At the beginning of 1917, he visited the United States to meet with Americans he had been corresponding with. On 3 February 1917, President
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
made a speech during Parker's visit that severed diplomatic ties with Germany. The U.S. had almost declared war and Parker believed that he had fulfilled his responsibilities. Later that same day, he resigned from his position at Wellington House, due to, he said, his failing health.
All of Wellington House's activities were kept in complete secrecy. This increased the credibility of their publications, because they could not be traced back to any official sources. Parker's letters concealed their connection and origin with the British government, and his American contacts never realized they were being manipulated. Today his influence on the First World War and America's entry into it is often overlooked, even by seemingly comprehensive propaganda analysis.
Filmography
*', directed by
J. Searle Dawley (1912, short film, based on the short story ''The House with the Tall Porch'')
*', directed by
J. Searle Dawley (1913, short film, based on the short story ''The Going of the White Swan'')
*''The Superior Law'', directed by
Oscar A. C. Lund (1913, short film, based on the novel ''The Right of Way'')
*', directed by (1913, short film, based on the novel ''The Translation of a Savage'')
*', directed by
J. Searle Dawley (1913, short film, based on the short story ''The Lane That Had No Turning'')
*''
Pierre of the Plains'' (1914, based on the short story collection ''Pierre and His People'')
*', directed by
Colin Campbell Colin may refer to:
* Colin (given name)
* Colin (surname)
* ''Colin'' (film), a 2008 Cannes film festival zombie movie
* Colin (horse) (1905–1932), thoroughbred racehorse
* Colin (humpback whale), a humpback whale calf abandoned north of Sydney, ...
(1914, short film, based on the short story ''The Going of the White Swan'')
*''The Seats of the Mighty'', directed by
T. Hayes Hunter (1914, based on the novel ''
The Seats of the Mighty
''The Seats of the Mighty'' is a novel published in 1896 by Gilbert Parker. It was first published in serial form in ''The Atlantic'' starting in March 1895, and released in book form in 1896. It was the third highest best-selling book in the U ...
'')
*''
The Right of Way'', directed by
John W. Noble (1915, based on the novel ''The Right of Way'')
*''
Jordan Is a Hard Road
''Jordan Is a Hard Road'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Dorothy Gish, Frank Campeau and Sarah Truax. The production was under the overall supervision of D. W. Griffith, and was the first film made by Dw ...
'', directed by
Allan Dwan (1915, based on the short story ''Jordan Is a Hard Road'')
*''
The Judgment House
''The Judgment House'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and written by J. Stuart Blackton based upon the novel by Gilbert Parker. The film stars Violet Heming, Wilfred Lucas, Conway Tearle, Paul Doucet, Florence ...
'', directed by
J. Stuart Blackton (1917, based on the novel ''The Judgment House'')
*''
The World for Sale
''The World for Sale'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and starring Conway Tearle, Ann Little, W.W. Bitner, Norbert Wicki, Crazy Thunder, and E.L. Fernandez. It is based on the 1916 novel ''The World For Sale'' ...
'', directed by
J. Stuart Blackton (1918, based on the novel ''The World for Sale'')
*''
Wild Youth'', directed by
George Melford
George H. Melford (born George Henry Knauff, February 19, 1877 – April 25, 1961) was an American stage and film actor and director. Often taken for granted as a director today, the stalwart Melford's name by the 1920s was, like Cecil B. DeMil ...
(1918, based on the novel ''Wild Youth'')
*''
Heart of the Wilds
''Heart of the Wilds'' is a lost 1918 American silent drama film directed by Marshall Neilan and starring Elsie Ferguson. The story is from "Pierre and His People", by Gilbert Parker, which Edgar Selwyn also based his play ''Pierre of the Plains ...
'', directed by
Marshall Neilan (1918, based on the short story ''She of the Triple Chevron'')
*''You Never Know Your Luck'', directed by
Frank Powell
Frank Powell (born Francis William Powell, May 8, 1877) was a Canadian-born stage and silent film actor, director, producer, and screenwriter who worked predominantly in the United States."Ontario Births, 1869-1912", digital copy of original h ...
(1919, based on the novel ''You Never Know Your Luck'')
*''
The Right of Way'', directed by
John Francis Dillon (1920, based on the novel ''The Right of Way'')
*''
Behold My Wife!'', directed by
George Melford
George H. Melford (born George Henry Knauff, February 19, 1877 – April 25, 1961) was an American stage and film actor and director. Often taken for granted as a director today, the stalwart Melford's name by the 1920s was, like Cecil B. DeMil ...
(1920, based on the novel ''The Translation of a Savage'')
*''
A Wise Fool
''A Wise Fool'' is a 1921 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. This film is based on the novel ''The Money Master'' by Sir Gilbert Parker and was directed by George Melford. James Kirkw ...
'', directed by
George Melford
George H. Melford (born George Henry Knauff, February 19, 1877 – April 25, 1961) was an American stage and film actor and director. Often taken for granted as a director today, the stalwart Melford's name by the 1920s was, like Cecil B. DeMil ...
(1921, based on the novel ''The Money Master'')
*''
The Lane That Had No Turning
''The Lane That Had No Turning'' is a lost 1922 American silent drama film that was directed by Victor Fleming. It was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. It is based on the short novel with the same title ...
'', directed by
Victor Fleming (1922, based on the short story ''The Lane That Had No Turning'')
*''
Over the Border'', directed by Penrhyn Stanlaws (1922, based on the short story ''She of the Triple Chevron'')
*''
The Lodge in the Wilderness
''The Lodge in the Wilderness'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Henry McCarty and starring Anita Stewart, Edmund Burns and Larry Steers.Connelly, p. 153. It is a Northern based on a 1909 short story of the same title by Ca ...
'', directed by Henry McCarthy (1926, based on the short story ''The Lodge in the Wilderness'')
*''
The Right of Way'', directed by
Frank Lloyd
Frank William George Lloyd (2 February 1886 – 10 August 1960) was a British-born American film director, actor, scriptwriter, and producer. He was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was its preside ...
(1931, based on the novel ''The Right of Way'')
*''
Behold My Wife!'', directed by
Mitchell Leisen
James Mitchell Leisen (October 6, 1898 – October 28, 1972) was an American director, art director, and costume designer.
Film career
He entered the film industry in the 1920s, beginning in the art and costume departments. He directed his f ...
(1934, based on the novel ''The Translation of a Savage'')
*''
Pierre of the Plains'', directed by
George B. Seitz (1942, based on the short story collection ''Pierre and His People'')
Notes
References
*Messenger, Gary. ''British Propaganda and the state in the First World War.'' Manchester University Press: New York, 1992.
*Millis, Walter. ''Road to War.'' Houghton Miffflin Company: New York, 1935.
*Parker, Gilbert. "The United States and the War." ''
Harper's,'' 136:521–531, March, 1918.
*Parker, Gilbert. "The 'White Papers'" Editorial. New York Times 26 Sept. 1914: 10.
*Parker, Gilbert. "The World in the Crucible." Dodd, Mead and Company: New York, 1915.
*Peterson, H. C. ''Propaganda for War.'' University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 1939.
*Squires, James. ''British Propaganda at Home and in the United States.'' Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA, 1935.
*'' Toronto Star'', 27 Sept. 1932, ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...
'', 7 September 1932, 14b
*Wilke, Jurgen, ed. ''Propaganda in the 20th Century'' Hampton Press, Inc.:Cresskill, NJ, 1998.
*
External links
*
*
*
*
*
Plaque in Honour of Sir Gilbert Parker (Plaque #25)New York Times article reporting on the Coronation Honours in which he was knighted*
*
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