Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-26

avoided committing itself as to
whether the sovereignty Of Belgium
mad expired with the German mill
tary occupation. At the same time
the United States indicated a willing
ness TO make arrangements for the
continuance of consuls personally not
Objectionable to the German authori-
ties
American Consul General Diederich
at Antwerp already has been recog-
nized by the German government and
the American note makes inquiry
whether the consuls at Liege and
Brussels, the only two other places
where neutral consuls now are per-
mitted by the German military au-
thorlties, personally are satisfactory.
The announcement from the state
department follows:
The department received by mail
the following communication dated
November 80, 1914, from the German
foreign office:
Permit COnsuls in Brussels.
Now that the German army has
occupied various portions of the en-
emies countries, the German govern
ment considers the exequateurs Of
the consuls formerly permitted to act
In such districts to have expired.
hN llitb'lld ldl BbNFl uultnl NOulO,
however, be disposed TO consider ia
vorably any wishes Of allied and neu-
tral countries respecting the estab-
lishment Of consular offices in the
districts in question, excepting, OF
course, those districts where military
operations are still in course.
In Belgium consular activities i'm
the provinces of east and west Flan-
ders would accordingly not be per-
mitted at present. with regard to the
other parts of Belgium, consular Of
ficers would be permitted to act in
Brussels, Antwerp and Liege, but not
at other points
The imperial government would
not consider the issuance of formal
eXequateurs advisable to consular Of
ficers whose names are communicated
to the foreign office, would simply be
granted temporary recognition to en-
able them to act in their official ca
pacity under reserve Of the usual in
vestigations respecting their records.
In view OF the peculiar circum-
stances contingent on military occu-
patton, the imperial government
would be grateful IL only such per-
sons should be nominated as are as
suredly friendly to Germany or have
at least neutral convictions.
In bringing the above to the at
tention Of the embassy, the foreign Of
flee has the honor respectfully to re-
quest that the American government
may be notified in the above sense.
As the embassy is aware, the German
government has already recognized
Consul General Diederich at Antwerp.
assuming this to he the wish of the
American. government
ITO this memorandum the depart
naut ranlta1 January % IQ1E
lows:
No Objections From 4. s.
This government has considered
the note verbale OF the German gov
ernment dated November 80 Since
consular officers are commercial and
not political agents Of a government
and permission for them TO act within
certain districts depends upon the au-
thority which Is In control of those
districts. without regard TO the ques-
ton Of legal right. and further. since
the fact that the consular districts
referred to in the memorandum OF
the German government are within
territory occupied by the German mil
ltary forces, this government Is not
disposed at this time to raise the
question OF the right OF the German
government to suspend the exequa-
turs OF United States consular off
GERS within the districts occupied and
subject to military Jurisdiction.
This government takes note that
all the districts in Belgium occupied
by the German army. excepting Brus-
sells, Hiege and Antwerp. are consld-
cred by the German government to
be within the sphere Of military oper-
ations, and that In those districts
other than the ones named the Ger,
mil ~
sular officers to perform their duties.
Maintains Three Consulates.
1.-The circumstances. this govern
ment assumes. are that the German
government will not object to United
States consular officers now stationed
at Brussels. Iiege. Antwerp and other
places similarly situated exercising