Circulation of pamphlets
One aid in maintaining relationships has been, and must continue to be, the distribution of relevant literary materials to all leading individuals who have shown an interest. This will ensure, for one thing, that they will continually be kept informed, will be stimulated to collaborate, and, without always being aware of it, will be influenced in the right direction. To achieve the latter goal completely, it will be necessary – as it has been to date – to send them specially printed materials created by the News Office or at its instigation.
In times when the political life is taxing the general interest heavily with other issues, it is probably advisable to send out these kinds of pamphlets less frequently. The purpose is then merely to prevent the interest in the naval question from becoming dormant. At another, less agitated time, professionally written, longer articles and pamphlets should be considered. In both cases, economic questions will also have to be treated not infrequently, which is why it is impossible to do without constant support from a scientific collaborator.
Through all the press matters influenced by the News Office there must continue to run, like a red thread, the notion that will set the future direction for the further expansion of the navy, and which is later to form the foundation for a renewed agitation. – This direction will have to be given to the News Office by His Excellency. (Expansion of the foreign fleet.)
The empirical statement – drawn from advertising – that the goal is achieved only by repeatedly placing something before people's eyes also applies in this case.
Daily press
The support for the daily press, which the News Office itself influenced more strongly in 1897/98 than during the last campaign, must also continue. Wolff's telegraph office is the best means for distributing a shorter news item whose official character is supposed to stand out. For less official and somewhat longer items, the Korrespondenzen should be considered the most expedient means.
Experience has taught us that the larger Berlin papers have made themselves quite independent over time by acquiring suitable staff members and using the material supplied by them. At times, they were even recalcitrant when it came to accepting articles the News Office wanted. (Of course, the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung is an exception, and it will be used as before for highly official news).
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