---
title: Letter of Transmittal and General Survey
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/01-letter-of-transmittal-and-general-survey/
description: Letter of Transmittal and General Survey, from Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information by George Creel, Chairman…
section: FRAME
---

![Illustration: an interwar radio-and-newsreel intelligence collage with a 1930s map of Europe and propaganda poster proofs.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/detail/hero-interwar.jpg)

[Library](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/) · Report · [Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/)

# Letter of Transmittal and General Survey

This text

- **Work:** [Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/)
- **Author:** George Creel, Chairman, Committee on Public Information
- **Published:** 1920

Full details

- **Rights:** A work of the United States government, printed by the Government Printing Office in 1920, so not protected by copyright in the United States (17 U.S.C. 105) and in the public domain by age as well. The Library of Congress states that it is unaware of any copyright restrictions on the item.

Chapters

1. [Letter of Transmittal and General Survey](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/01-letter-of-transmittal-and-general-survey/)
2. Part I: The Domestic Section
3. [Work of the Domestic Section](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/02-work-of-the-domestic-section/)
4. [The Voluntary Censorship](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/03-the-voluntary-censorship/)
5. [Division of News](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/04-division-of-news/)
6. [Division of Civic and Educational Cooperation](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/05-division-of-civic-and-educational-cooperation/)
7. [Division of Production and Distribution](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/06-division-of-production-and-distribution/)
8. [Four Minute Men](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/07-four-minute-men/)
9. [The Speaking Division](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/08-the-speaking-division/)
10. [The Division of Advertising](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/09-the-division-of-advertising/)
11. [Film Division](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/10-film-division/)
12. [Bureau of Distribution of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/11-bureau-of-distribution-of-the-division-of-films/)
13. [Educational Department of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/12-educational-department-of-the-division-of-films/)
14. [Scenario Department of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/13-scenario-department-of-the-division-of-films/)
15. [Bureau of War Expositions of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/14-bureau-of-war-expositions-of-the-division-of-fil/)
16. [Bureau of War Photographs of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/15-bureau-of-war-photographs-of-the-division-of-fil/)
17. [Official U. S. Bulletin](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/16-official-u-s-bulletin/)
18. [The Service Bureau](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/17-the-service-bureau/)
19. [Division of Exhibit at State Fairs](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/18-division-of-exhibit-at-state-fairs/)
20. [Division of Syndicate Features](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/19-division-of-syndicate-features/)
21. [Division of Women’s War Work](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/20-division-of-women-s-war-work/)
22. [The Bureau of Cartoons](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/21-the-bureau-of-cartoons/)
23. [Division of Business Management](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/22-division-of-business-management/)
24. [Division of Work with the Foreign Born](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/23-division-of-work-with-the-foreign-born/)
25. [Showing America to the Foreign Press](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/24-showing-america-to-the-foreign-press/)
26. Part II: The Foreign Section
27. [Work of the Foreign Section](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/25-work-of-the-foreign-section/)
28. [Wireless and Cable Service](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/26-wireless-and-cable-service/)
29. [Foreign Press Bureau](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/27-foreign-press-bureau/)
30. [Foreign Film Activities](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/28-foreign-film-activities/)
31. [Foreign Picture Service](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/29-foreign-picture-service/)
32. Reports from Foreign Commissioners
33. [Report on the Work in Mexico](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/30-report-on-the-work-in-mexico/)
34. [The Work in France](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/31-the-work-in-france/)
35. [The Work in Holland](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/32-the-work-in-holland/)
36. [Work in Switzerland](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/33-work-in-switzerland/)
37. [Work in Italy](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/34-work-in-italy/)
38. [Work in Spain](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/35-work-in-spain/)
39. [Work in Denmark](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/36-work-in-denmark/)
40. [Work in Russia: General Introduction](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/37-work-in-russia-general-introduction/)
41. [Work in Russia: The Installation](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/38-work-in-russia-the-installation/)
42. [Work in Russia: Siberian Activities](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/39-work-in-russia-siberian-activities/)
43. [Work in Russia: Archangel](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/40-work-in-russia-archangel/)
44. [The Work in China](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/41-the-work-in-china/)
45. [Work in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/42-work-in-argentina-uruguay-and-paraguay/)
46. [Work in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/43-work-in-peru-ecuador-and-bolivia/)
47. [Other Work in South America](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/44-other-work-in-south-america/)
48. [Work in Sweden and Norway](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/45-work-in-sweden-and-norway/)

[← About this text](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/) [Work of the Domestic Section →](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/02-work-of-the-domestic-section/)

**Content note:** Quotes wartime anti-German language, including "Hun", and period terms for racial and national groups. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

New York, June i, 1919. To the President :

I have the honor to submit herewith a full report of the activities of the Committee on Public Information from the time of its establishment to the period of its conclusion.

Created under your Executive order of April 14, 1917, in the very first hours of the war, and forced into instant operation by imperative necessities, the committee had to start with a purpose only, rather than any predetermined program, and grew under pressure instead of the orderly sequence provided by deliberated plan. This primary purpose was to drive home the absolute justice of America's cause, the absolute selflessness of America's aims.

Realizing public opinion as a vital part of the national defense, a mighty force in the national attadi, our task was to devise machinery with which to make the fight for loyalty and unity at home, and for the friendship and understanding of the neutral nations of the world.

At no point were our functions negative. We dealt in the positive, and our emphasis was ever on expression, not suppression. We fought indifference and disaffection in the United States and we fought falsehood abroad. We strove for the maintenance of our own morale by every process of stimulation ; we sought the verdict of mankind by truth telling. We did not call it " propaganda," for that word, in German hands, had come to be associated with lies and corruptions. Our work was educational and informative only, for we had such confidence in our case as to feel that only fair presentation of its facts was needed.

Under the insistence of this necessity, the committee grew to be a world organization. Not only did it reach deep into every commmiity in the United States, but it carried the aims and objects of America to every land.

There was no part of the great war machinery that we did not touch, no medium of appeal that we did not employ. The printed word, the spoken word, the motion picture, the poster, the signboard^all these were used in our campaign to make our own people and all other peoples understand the causes that compelled America to take arms in defense of its liberties and free institutions.

Besides the daily war news, issued officially to the whole press of the country, the committote supplied the specialized press with feature articles and selected services. We had deep appreciation that it was not the war of an administration, but the war of 110,000,000 people, and even to the point of military indiscretion we opened up the activities of the Government to the inspection of the citizenship. ' Of 6,000 releases, 'dBalifig'with the most vital importances, only three were questioned as to accuracy, and inquiry upheld two of these.

In the Four Minute Men alone the committee commanded the volunteer services of 76,000 speakers, operating in 5,200 communities, and making a total of 755,190 speeches.

Through the speaking division it toured great groups, like the Blue Devils, Pershing's Veterans, and the Belgians, arranged mass meetings, conducted 45 war conferences, sent famous speakers from coast to coast, and coordinated the speaking activities of the entire Nation.

Through a pamphlet division it prepared and published the war literature that was issued in pamphlet form. It commanded the services of any writer that it chose to call, and at its back were over 3,000 of the leading historians of the country, every man in the service. These pamphlets, covering every phase of America's ideals, purposes, and aims, were printed in many languages. Seventy-five millions reached the people of America, and other millions went to every corner of the world, carrying our defense and our attack. Experts planned the most effective circulation schemes, and experts directed the distribution, in order that every printed bullet might reach its mark. The committee mobilized the advertising forces of the country — press, periodical, car, and outdoor — for the patriotic campaign that gave millions of dollars' worth of free space to the national service.

It mobilized the artists of America, on a volunteer basis, for the production of posters, window cards, and similar material of pictorial publicity for the use of various Government departments and patriotic societies. A total of 1,438 drawings were used.

It issued an official daily newspaper, serving every department of Government, with a circulation of 100,000 copies a day. For official use only its value was such that private citizens ignored the supposedly prohibitive subscription price^ subscribing to the amount of $77,622.58.

With the aid of a volunteer staff of several hundred translators the committee kept in direct touch with the foreign-language press, supplying selected articles designed to combat ignorance and disaffection.

It organized and directed 23 societies and leagues designed to appeal to certain classes and particular foreign-language groups, each bod}^ carrying a specific message of unity and enthusiasm to its section of America's adopted peoples.

It acted as a bureau of information for all persons who sought direction in volunteer war work, in acquiring knowledge of any administrative activities, or in approaching business dealings with the Government. In the 10 months of its existence it gave answers to 86,000 requests for specific information.

Xhe committee supervised the voluntary censorship of the newspaper and periodical press.

It established rules and regulations for the cable censorship with respect to press dispatches.

It planned war exhibits for the State fairs of the United States, also the great series of interallied war expositions that brought home to our millions the exact nature of the struggle that was being waged in France. In Chicago alone 2,000,000 people attended in two weeks, and in 19 cities the receipts aggregated $1,432,261.3(5.

It gathered together the leading novelists, essayists, and publicists of the land, and these men and women, without payment, worked faithfully in the production of brilliant, comprehensive articles that went to the press as syndicate features.

One division paid particular attention to the rural press and the plate matter service. Others looked after the specialized needs of the labor press, the religious press, and the periodical press. The Division of Women's War Work prepared and issued the information of peculiar interest to the women of the United States, also aiding in the task of organizing and directing.

Through the medium of the motion picture America's war progress, as well as the meanings and purposes of democracy, were carried to every community in the United States and to every corner of the world. Pershing's Crusaders, America's Answer, and Under Four Flags were types of feature films by which we drove home America's resources and determinations, while other pictures, showing our social and industrial life, made our free institutions vivid to foreign peoples. From the domestic showings alone, under a fair plan of distribution, the sum of $878,215 was gained, which went to support the cost of the campaigns in foreign countries that were necessarily free.

Another division prepared and distributed still photographs and stereopticon slides to the press and public, over 200,000 of the latter being issued at cost. This division also conceived the idea of the " permit system " that opened up our military and naval activities to civilian camera men, and operated it successfully. It handled also the voluntary censorship of still and motion pictures in order that there might be no disclosure of information valuable to the enemy, the number averaging 700 a day.

Another division, in New York, guarded the reputation of America in foreign countries by stopping the export of film giving false or misleading impressions of American life. By an arrangement with the War Trade Board, no export license was granted without the approval of the committee, and this leverage, aided by the patriotism of the industry, enabled us to control the flow of film to foreign countries, changing it in such manner as to serve the national cause.

Soon discovering that the fight for world opinion must be made on the ground, the committee opened offices in every capital of the world. To these offices went a cable and wireless service carrying the "spot" news of the day; a mail feature service; still j)hotographs and posters for window display ; feature films showing our military effort, our social and industrial progress; pamphlets for translation and distribution; speakers to augment the efforts of those secured in the country itself, etc.

At the outset we found that America was dependent upon foreign press services for her intercourse with other countries; that the volume of information was small, and what was worse, concerned only with the violent and unusual in our national life. The wireless and cables were used to remedy this evil situation. In close cooperation with the Navy, a service went out from Tuckerton to the Eiffel ToAver for use in France, and then for relay to our offices in Berne, Eome, Madrid, and Lisbon. From Tuckerton the service flashed to England, and from England there was relay to Holland, the Scandinavian countries, and Russia. We went into Mexico by cable and land wires ; from Darien we sent a service in Spanish to Central and South American countries for distribution by our representatives; the Orient was served by leaps from New York to San Diego, to Cavite to Shanghai. From Shanghai the news went to Tokio and Pekin, and from Pekin on to Vladivostok for Siberia. Australia, India, Egypt, and the Balkans were also reached, and by balloons, mortars, and aeroplanes we carried the truth across the firing line into the Central Powers.

For the first time in history the speeches of a national executive were given universal circulation,! and I am proud to tell you, sir, that your declarations had the force of armies.

In many countries your speeches were printed by the committee's agents on native presses and circulated by the million. They were sent out by the million from America in a score of languages. They were printed on post cards and embodied in moving-picture films and interpreted by the committee's speakers. The acts of Congress, all of our official deeds and utterances, the laws that showed our devotion to justice, instances of our enthusiasm and unity — all were put into print in every language — Teheran and Tokio getting them as completely as Paris or Rome or London or Madrid.

Before this flood of publicity the German misrepresentations were swept away in Switzerland, the Scandinavian countries, Italy, Spain, the Far East, Mexico, Central and South America. From being the most misunderstood nation in the world, America became the most popular.

This daily news service by wire and radio was supplemented by a mail service of special articles and illustrations that went into foreign newspapers and magazines and technical journals and periodicals of special appeal. We aimed to give in this way a true picture of the American democracy, not only in its war activities but also in its devotion to the interests of peace. There were, too, series of illustrated articles on our education, our trade and industry, our finance, our labor conditions, our religions, our work in medicine, our agriculture, our women's work, our Government, and our ideals.

Reading rooms were opened in foreign countries and furnished with American books, periodicals, and newspapers. Schools and public libraries were similarly supplied. Photographs were sent for display on easels in shop windows abroad. Window hangers and news-display sheets went out in English, French, Italian, Swedish, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, and Dutch; and display sheets went to Russia, China, Japan, chosen parts of India, and the Orient, to be supplemented with printed reading matter by the committee's agents there. Every conceivable means was used to reach the foreign mind with America's message.

And there was no bribery, no sneaking influence of any sort. We got into the foreign press by the simple expedient of making our output so newsy and so interesting that the editor could not resist it. ' The records show that as high as 90 per cent of our material was printed in foreign countries, despite the shortage of paper everywhere and the pressure of war news on newspaper space.

Many of the foreign problems were far from simple. When our propaganda films began to go abroad it was found that the Germans had bought up practically all the moving-picture houses in some of the neutral countries. They were busy with German propaganda films. They would not take American war pictures on any terms. It looked like a complete blockade for the committee's films, but a way was found to submarine it. The heads of the American exporting companies met with the committee's officers and agreed that no American films should be exported unless a certain amount of American propaganda film was included in the order. The foreign movie houses could not live without Americanfilm. The war had reduced the output of the foreign film companies to a minimum. The German-owned movie houses had either to capitulate or starve to death. Some took one alternative, some the other, but practically all gave up the fight. Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford led Pershing's Crusaders and America's Answer into the enemy's territory and smashed another Hindenburg line.

The net effect of the whole foreign campaign of the committee has been to make a world of friends and well-wishers for the United States out of a world that was either inimical or contemptuous or indifferent. We were looked upon as a Nation of dollar-mad materialists. All the American news in foreign papers confirmed that view of us. It was news of strikes and lynchings, riots, murder cases, graft prosecutions, and all the public washing of the Nation's dirty linen. Our policies, America's unselfish aims in the war, the services by which these policies were explained and these aims supported, and the flood of news items and articles about our normal life and our commonplace activities — these have combined to give a picture of the United States to foreign eyes more truthful and more flattering. It is a picture that is of incalculable value in our future dealings with the world, political and commercial. It is a bit of press agenting that money could not buy, done out of patriotism by men and women whose services no money could have bought.

Even as the Committee on Public Information claims success in its fight for public opinion in other countries, so does it advance its pride in the unity and enthusiasm that marked America's war effort. The foreign born, feared with respect to their ignorances and prejudices, were brought into closer touch with our national life than ever before, while absolute openness and honesty in the matter of official news, the eloquence of speakers, the story of motion pictures and posters, all combined to banish the ignorances and indifferences that threatened the full loyalty of the native born.

I am happy to report that your original instructions have been disregarded in no single particular. The activities of the committee have been open and honest. There is not one that we are ashamed to reveal. No dollar has ever been sent on a furtive errand. Neither at home nor abroad has a cent been spent for any secret or corrupt purpose.

It may be asserted also that the most searching investigation will discover no waste, but that study of the following tables will reveal a care and economy in expenditure that' is in itself a striking testimonial to the intelligence and devotion of the men and women associated in the work.

1. Funds received by the Committee on Public Information from appropriations :

From the President, 1917-1919 $5, 600, 000. 00

From Congress, 1918-19 1, 250, 000. 00

Total 6, 850, 000. 00

2. Receipts by committee from earnings, 1917-1919 2, 825, 670. 23 is ' .

8. Total moneys received by committee :

Appropriation 6, 850, 000. 00

Earnings and miscellaneous receipts 2, 825, 670. 23

Total 9, 675, 670. 28

4. Committee expenditure (domestic and foreign, 1917-

1919) :

From national security and defense 4, 236, 494. 54

From congressional appropriation 1, 305, 715. 28

From earnings 1, 748, 062. 85 Total 7, 290, 272. 62 5. Returned to appropriations :

National security and defense 1, 754, 322. 12

Congressional appropriations 573, 549. 60 Miscellaneous receipts 57, 525. 89 Total 2,885,397.61

6. What the committee cost the Government from Apr.

14, 1917, to June 1, 1919 4, 464, 602. 39 6. Statement of expenditures by divisions of the Committee on Public Information from the organization of each division to June 1, 1919.

Domestic Work Appropriation . National security and defense expenses, 1918. Executive ^ State Pair Exliibitions. Civic and Educational Official War Savings Bulletin Division of SpeaVing Division of Four Minute Men Division of News Division of Syndicate Features Division of Films Bureau of Expositions Bureau of War Photographs Division of Foreign Language Newspapers Division of Business Management Division of Distribution and Production Division of Labor Publications. ....... Division of Women's War Work Service Bureau Division of Pictorial Publicity . ....... Division of Advertising Division of Industrial Relations Division of Americanization Survey. . . S48, 886. 92 1,635.49 457, 973. 32

264, 272. 26 52,158.11 72, 870. 46 37,873.75 15, 407. 96

217, 250. 03 23,616.57 9, 080. 57 109, 940. 55

126, 997. 79 51,754.44 19,956.42' 14,810.95 8,310.35 12, 612. 93 920. 75 2, 709. 00

Total 1 , 549, 038. 62 1, 305, 715. 23 1, 713, 567

Salaries and expenses. Committee on Public Information, 1919. 1, 110, 470, 18, 67, 38, 192, 982. 07 332. 76 609. 17 685. 63 279. 94 450. 07 438. 18 729. OS 26, 098. 63 Disbursements from earnings. 56, 751. 48 1,006,142.80 50, 643. 06 187, 610. 82

102, 673. 41 18,127.18 2,354.01 28,884.86 4, 860. 62 9, 899. 69 .23

30.35 Total. $73, 585. 80 3, 61 7. 5 J 568,306.08 734,881.43 70,8^3.74 140, 150. 40 76, 323. 82 15,846.14 1,066,730-59 1,006,142.80 100, 358. 26 9, 080. 57 297,551.37

229, 701. 55 69, 881. 62 22,310.43 43, 695. 81 13,170.97 22>512.62 920. ■98 2, 709. 00

4,568,321.54 Foreign Work Appropriation. Total.

National Security and Defense Expenses, 1918.

National Security and Defense Committee on Public Information, 1919. Disbursements from earnings. Foreign Section .1871,373.56 85,427.41 11,133.45 112, 162. 60 $852,587.95 206, 026. 08 141,004.82 181, 106. 52 60,000.00 30,923.76 9, 200. 07 35,194.06 4, 797. 49 32, 677. 07 10,094.87 3,819.80 1,629.17 3,603.49 3, 2.52. 18 2, 032. 53

81,723,961.51 291,453.49 152, 138. 27 293, 269. 12 60,000.00 30,923.76 21, 688. 48 39,887.99 4,851.49 44,849.77 10, 094. 87 3, 819. 80 1, 629. 17 3,603.49 3,252.18 2, 032. 53

Foreign Picture Service .134, 495. 16 Foreign Press— Mail Foreign Press— Cable Peace Conference Work with Foreign Born Hungarian Bureau 12,488.41 4,693.93 54.00 12, 172. 70 Scandinavian Bureau Polish Bureau German Bureau Italian Bureau Lithuanian Bureau Czecho-Slovak Jugo-Slav Russian Bureau Four Minute Men Total 1,109,506.06 1,577,949.86 2,721,951.08

34,495.16 7. Receipts from the activities of the Committee on Public Information.

Division of Films $859, 994. 35 Bureau of Expositions ' 1,438,004.24 Bureau of War Pliotographs 70, 600. 10 Division of Distribution 19, 509. 22 Oflicial Bulletin 71, 323. 80 Foreign Section films 179, 439. 70

Miscellaneous refunds and receipts 186, 798. 82

2, 825, 670. 23

[← About this text](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/) [Work of the Domestic Section →](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/02-work-of-the-domestic-section/)

Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information, George Creel, Chairman, Committee on Public Information. A work of the United States government, printed by the Government Printing Office in 1920, so not protected by copyright in the United States (17 U.S.C. 105) and in the public domain by age as well. The Library of Congress states that it is unaware of any copyright restrictions on the item. [Provenance and rights](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/).