New Britain herald., 1915-01-26
|t01E FROM GERMANY
 !. REGARDING ||!I| C0NSULS ehs 45e A.t @f'
M pdparase tf American Reply
 : Made Pubic by Bryan.

Wa shington,, D. C., Jan .2s.-Sec. Netary Bryan last night made public s tle text of the note from Germany arnnlling the cxeuuaturs, or ccrttl- cAtss of authority Of neutral consuls in Belgium and issued a paraphrase or the American governments reply N. The text of the state dcpartment's 's statement follows:
 Ss The department received by mail @ the following corf,muncation dated S 1oyember 30, 1914, from the Ger nan foreign office: i. Consider ENcquaturs Void. .
 Now that the German army has 0ccupied various portions of enemy .cpuntries the German government considers the exequaturs of the con- suls formerly permitted to act in such district, to nave expired.
 F The imperial government would, however, be disposed to consider fla Norably any wishes of allied and neu- tral countries respecting the estab- lishment of consular officers In the districts in question, excepting, of
  sitary operations are still in course. e Tn Belgium, consular activities in the provinces of East and West !, Flanders would accordingly not be permitted at present With regard ~ tb the other parts of Belgium, con- sular officers would be permitted to act for the present in Brussels Ant Nerp and Liege, but not at other Joints
 The imperial government would not consider the issuance of formal eXequaturs advisable; to consular of ,fcers whose names are cOmmunicat led to the foreign office would simply be granted temporary recognition to enable them to act in their official capacity under reserve of the usual investigations respecting their rec ords.
 "'In view of the peculiar circum- < stances contingent on military occu- patton, the imperial government twould be grateful if only such per sons should be nominated as are as suredly friendly to Germany or have at least neutral convictions.
 Consul Dicderich Recognized.
 "'In bringing the above to the at tention of the embassy, the foreign office has the honor respectfully to request that the American govern -ment may be notified in the above sense As the embassy is aware, the y@German government has already rec ognized Consul General Diederich at Antwerp, assuming this to be the wish of the American government
 gro this memorandum the depart ment replied on January 21, 1915, as follows: ....4.~ &''r.a-..
 "'This government has considered the note verbale of the German gov ernment dated November 30. Since consular officers are commercial and not political agents of government and permission for them to act with in certain districts depends upon the authority which is in control of those districts, without regard to the ques- ton of legal right. and further, since the fact that the. consular dis tricts referred to in the memoran- dunn of the German government are within territory occupied by the Ger man military forces, this government is not disposed at this time to raise the question of right of the German government to suspend the exequat urs of United States consular officers within the districts occupied and Subject to military jurisdiction.
 Same Consuls to Continue.
 "'This government takes note that all the districts in Belgium occupied by the German army excepting Brus- sels, Liege and Antwerp. are consid cred by the German government to be within the sphere of military op erations, and that in those districts other than he ones named, the Ger man government will not permit con- sular officers to perform their duties Tn the circumstances this gov ernment assumes that the German government will not object to United States consular officers now stationed at Brussels, Liege, Antwerp and oth- :, CT places, similarly situated, exercis- Ing their functions and that if the authorities in control of those cities have objection on personal grounds to any of such officers acting, this government will be notified forthwith of such objection.