Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-08
Those Attached to AmeIi-
can Legation Discour-
aged Publicity,
BELGIANS NEED AID
American Forced From
Country Because He Had
British Relative.

THE HAGUE, April 6-(via Lon
don, April 7.-12:11 a. m.)-Both
Henry aVnDyke, the American ambas-
sador to The Netherlands and Clifford
Pinchot, attached to the American le-
cation, have eudeavored to the utmost
to keep the matter Of Mr.. Pinchots
expulsion from Belgium by the Ger
mans from publicity lest such action
should render more difficult the work
Of relief IN Belgium, involving the
succOr of nine and a half million des-
titue people of that country and the
northern provinces of France.
Mr.. Pinchot, however, on learning
today that the incident had been pub
lished, gave the Associated Press the
following signed statement:
Some time ago / was asked by
Herbert G. Hoover to become a MEM
ber Of the commission for relief in
Belgium and to take charge OF the
feeding of the French in the invaded
provinces north of the German lines.
After going twice to the continent
arrangements finally were completed
and guarantees given TO the commits
sion by the German government that
the American commissions food would
not be taken.
Gets official Papers.
Immediately to DR.. Van Dyke TO whose
legation / was attached by orders from
Washington with the specific duty
Of representing the commission Of re-
lief in feeding the civil population In
northeastern France within the Ger
man lines.
"Dr Van Dyke procured from tho
German legation at The Hague, the
necessary papers for entering Bel
glum. on March 30 / went with my
wife in a commission automobile and
was accompanied by a Brussels rep
resentative of the commission to the
Belgian frontier where my diplomatic
and commission passes were examined
After three hours delay we were sent
under an armed escort to Antwerp.
The next morning orders came
from the German governor. General
Won Bissing. through the head OF the
pass office In Antwerp that we were TO
leave Belgium without delay. No rea-
son was assigned for this action.
Before leaving, however re-
ceived a letter from the American
ambassador at Brussels. Brand Whit
lock, saying that the reason given by
General Won Bissing for our expulsion
was my relationship to the British
minister at The Hague. Sir Alan John
stone, who married my sister and the
fact that / had stayed with him at
The Hague on my way 60 Belgium.
Accordingly we returned to Holland on
March 81 and since then have been
staying with the American minister at
The Hague awaiting instructions from
Washington.
"In entering and leaving Belgium
Mrs Pinchot and I were searched by
the German military authorities.
Work Appreciated.
Il cannot close this statement with
out expressing the deep impression
made upon me by what / saw of the
work OF the American commission for
relief in Belgium and especially by
the warm expressions Of gratitude and
appreciation which came to me from
every side and all classes Of people,
including many Of the leaders OF tho
province in which Antwerp lies"
Dr. Van Dyke, referring to this oc.
currence. said:
THE incident has diplomatic rela-
tions. OF course. but these are inf
nitely less important than the con-
tinuance OF the work of the relief
commission which Is saving millions
OF people from starvation. Therefore
/ shall say nothing about the incident
until my Instructions come from
WASHINGTON"