---
title: Showing America to the Foreign Press
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/24-showing-america-to-the-foreign-press/
description: Showing America to the Foreign Press, from Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information by George Creel, Chairman, Committee on…
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/)

# Showing America to the Foreign Press

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/)

[← Division of Work with the Foreign Born](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/23-division-of-work-with-the-foreign-born/) [Work of the Foreign Section →](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/25-work-of-the-foreign-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)

In many respects, one of the most effective ideas of the Committee on Public Information was the bringing to the United States, from time to time, of delegations of foreign newspaper men in order that they might " see with their own eyes, hear with their own ears," and upon their return be able to report fullj'- on America's morale and effort.

Mr. Robert H. Murray, our commissioner in Mexico, assembled the first of these visitors, inviting representatives of the following papers : El Universal, El Excelsior, El Nacional, A. B. C, El Economista, El Revistas de Eevistas, all of Mexico City ; El Dictamen, Vera Cruz ; La Prensa, Puebla ; El Inf ormador, Saltillo ; El Liberal, Saltillo ; El Progresso, El Liberal, and Nuevo Patria, all of Monterey; La Prensa, Tampico.

Lieut. P. S. O'Reilly, borrowed from the Cable Censorship by reason of a long association with Spanish-speaking j)eopies, took the p^i'ty in charge for the committee, and a tour Avas arranged that covered the United States.

Their itinerar}^ included the following cities and points of interest : New Orleans, La. ; Atlanta, Ga. ; Washington, D. C, where the delegation was received and addressed by President • Wilson and where the Pan American Bureau entertained it and the Mexicans were afforded an opportunity of seeing many governmental works; Annapolis, Md., for inspection of the United States Naval Academy ; Camp Meade, Md., for inspection of a typical United States cantonment ; Philadelphia, Pa., for view of the Hog Island Shipbuilding Yard ; South Bethlehem. Pa., for inspection of the Bethlehem Steel Works; New York City, for inspection of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, and numerous Avar factories in and around Ncav York; Boston, Mass., for inspection of shipbuilding plants; Schenectady, N. Y., for inspection of the plant of the General Electric Co. ; Buffalo, N. Y., for inspection of the Curtiss Aviation Co. ; Detroit, Mich., for vieAv of A^arious plants making Liberty motors and planes; Chicago, 111., for vieAV of A^arious steel plants, pacldng houses, etc. ; St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn., for stud}^ of the milling centers; Yakima, Wash., for a vicAV of a United States reclamation project; Seattle, Wash., for study of Avest coast shipbuilding; Portland, Oreg., for study of Avest coast shipbuilding, and San Francisco for the same purpose; Los Angeles; and back to Mexico A^a San Antonio and Laredo.

Chambers of commerce, boards of trade, various other civic and business organizations and business firms and individuals throughout the country aided splendidly in making the Mexicans feel at home and in impressing them Avith the good will and friendship Avhich the people of the United States felt for the people south of the Eio Grande. Many business firms and individuals entertained these Mexican guests of the American Nation and contributed not a little to making them, on their return to their native country, enthusiastic " boosters " for the United States. The speech which President Wilson made to the delegation in Washington — and which was distributed throughout Central and South America by the Foreign Press Cable Service — was a very effective Aveapon against the sort of German propaganda then being spread over Latin- America.

Six of the most distinguished journalists of Switzerland, invited by Mrs. Whitehouse, and their acceptances approved by the Swiss Government, were received and toured in the same manner. Likewise a delegation of the leading newspaper men of Italy, and also the leaders of the Scandinavian press. Other visits, under way, had to be canceled by reason of the armistice.

There can be no question as to the signal success of these visits, for the effect of them was instant and lasting. The very fact that we were willing to let our war progress be seen and judged was impressive at the outset; the visitors, while in the United States, sent daily and enthusiastic letters, supplemented by cables, and upon their return, each wrote pages, while many even gave a series of lectures on the American effort. Particularly was this true in the case of the Swiss.

In line with this policy the foreign correspondents on duty in the United States, having been formed into an association, were taken over the United States as guests of the Committee on Public Information, and given unusual privileges of observation. Our first effort was to answer the German lie that America's shipbuilding was a " bluff."

Permission for the unprecedented step of showing the secret processes of certain American shipbuilding yards was finally obtained from the Government departments concerned, and about 20 foreign journalists were taken on a tour which embraced the yards of the New York Shipbuilding Co., at Camden, N. J. ; the American International plant, at Hog Island, Pa. ; the Squantum and Quincy plants of the Fore Eiver Shipbuilding Co., outside of Boston, Mass. ; the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the Newark plant of the Submarine Boat Corporation. Each correspondent who made the trip was under no pledge as to the character of the matter he was to write, and the only pledges asked were with respect to certain secrets of construction.

Judging from the publicity to the American shipbuilding program which resulted, the trip was an immense success. All of the foreign correspondents were more than anxious to present America's viewpoint and more than enthusiastic over America's accomplishments. Matter written by these correspondents was published all over England, France, Italy, and South America, and reproduced in countries still more distant.

Necessary permission having been secured, the foreign . correspondents were next sent on a tour of the Middle West to study aviation progre^. At Detroit the plant of the Packard Motor Co. — engaged in making Liberty motors — was thoroughly inspected, the first time that such a permission had been granted. The Army authorities, thoroughly awake to the propaganda value of the plan, relaxed their stern rule against civilians and granted the correspondents fullest freedom at the special testing field outside of Detroit. The plant of Henry Ford, making cylinders for the Liberty motors, was inspected.

The correspondents then traveled to Chicago. They were greatly interested in the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, where America's new Navy was partly in the making. They were made to realize something of the gigantic responsibilities which the United States had shouldered in its selfassumed task of feeding the world by a detailed view of the Union Stock Yards and the great packing plants of Chicago. One day was also spent in investigating the making of munitions at the plant of the International Harvester Co. Another day was spent visiting the great war plant of the Rock Island Arsenal.

The third trip undertaken was in response to earnest pleas from the correspondents that they be permitted to visit briefly with President Wilson himself. The President consented to receive the correspondents at the White House, and in a remarkable interview, laid bare his own thought as well as his conception of the ideals of America. The correspondents were then taken to Old Point Comfort where they saw the plant of the Newport NeAvs Shipbuilding Co., inspected the heavy artillery school at Fortress Monroe, saw the training of naval aviators at Langley Field, Hampton Roads, and the vast embarkation works in and around that harbor.

The fourth trip was a corollary to the Detroit-Chicago- Rock Island inspection. It was designed to show the correspondents certain American aviation plants in operation. The correspondents were taken to Dayton, where they went over the plant of the Dayton-Wright Co., and as many as

\y desired were afforded the opportunity of going aloft in a Liberty plane. The. same inspection and the same opportunity was afforded them at Buffalo, where they went through the great plant of the Curtiss Co.

These trips were of incalculable.value in American propaganda work. The articles were written on the basis of what had been seen by the eyes of foreigners with the indiAddual correspondent's own realization of the facts which would most appeal to his OAvn reading public. It should be added that "Mr. Perry Arnold, who conducted these correspondents on each trip, himself prepared numerous articles covering what had been seen which were extensively circulated in Europe and South America.

The newspaper men of Spain, some from the Scandinavian countries, from England and from Holland, were also taken to the firing line in France by representatives of the Committee on Public Information, and as in the case of the American tours, the results were remarkably good.

[← Division of Work with the Foreign Born](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/23-division-of-work-with-the-foreign-born/) [Work of the Foreign Section →](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/25-work-of-the-foreign-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/).