Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-22

ure to comply with Mr.. Conrad's prom
ise to inform the legation of sentence
! urged that, inasmuch as the Of
lenses charged against Miss Cavell
were long since accomplished. and as
she had been In prison for some weeks
could entail no danger to the German
cause. I even went SO far as to point
out the fearful effect Of a summary
execution of this sort upon public
though had no authority for doing
50. called attention to the possibility
that 1t might bring about reprisals."
Supported by Spanish Minister.
Mr.. Gibson's report continues:
The Spanish minister forcibly sup
ported all our representations and
made an earnest plea for clemency.
Baron Won der Lancken stated that
the military governor was the supreme
authority in matters of this sort, and
that an appeal from his decision could
be carried only to the emperor. the
governor general having no authority
to intervene in such cases.
After some discussion he agreed to
call the military governor on the tele-
phone and learn whether he had al
ready ratified the sentence and wheth-
er there was any chance for clemency.
and stated that he had been to confer
personally with the military governor.
who said he acted in the case of Miss
Cavell only after mature elaboration.
that the circumstances in her case
were Of such a character that he con-
sidered the infection Of the death pen
atty imperative, and that he must de-
cline to accept your plea for clemency
or any representation in regard to the
matter.
Baron Won der Lancken then asked
me to take back the note which I had
presented to him. To this demurred,
pointing out that it was not a requete
en- grace. but merely a note to him
transmitting a request to the governor,
which was itself to be considered as the
requete en- grace.
Declined to Keep Note.
IT pointed out that this was express
ly stated in your note to him and tried
to prevail upon him to keep 1t. He was
very insistent, however, and I finally
reached the conclusion that inasmuch
as he had read 1t aloud to us and we
knew he was aware Of its contents,
there was nothing to be gained by re-
fustng to accept tho note, and accord
ingly took 1t back
Even after Baron Won der Lancken's
very positive and definite statement
that there was no hope, and that I'M
der the circumstances even the en-
peror himself could not intervene we
continued to appeal to every sentiment
to secure delay.
The Spanish minister even led Baron
Won der Lancken aside in order to say
very forcibly a number of things which
ne would have fe1t hesitancy in say
ing In the presence OF the younger ofi-
GERS and of Mr.. Deleval a Belgian suh-
ject.
His e1celiency talked very earnestly
with Baron Won der Lancken for about
a quarter Of an hour. During this time
Mr.. Deleval and I presented to the
younger officers every argument We
could think of. I reminded them of our
untirfng efforts on behalf of German
subjects at the outbreak of the war and
during the siege Of Antwerp. pointed
out that while our services had been
gladly rendered and without any
thought OF future favors, they should
certainly entitle you to some consid-
Grafton for the only request of this sort
you had made since the beginning of
the war.
Unfortunately our efforts were IN
awaiting. We persevered until It was
only TOO clear that there was no hope
OF securing any consideration for the
case. We left shortly after midnight
and l Immediately returned to the le-
CATION to report to you.
HUGH GIBSON"
Unable to See Prisoner,
Counselor Of Legation Deleval report
ed to Mr.. Whitlock that on the failure
OF the German authorities to reply to
Mr.. Whitlock's request August 81 that