The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-09
u. S. PROTEST ON
BELGIAN | AB0R
Warned berlin
Policy, if Pursued, Will Be
in All Probability Fatal
to Relief Work."

Washington, Dec. 9.-The text OF
the American governments protest
against the deportation of Belgians In
to Germany for forced labor has been
made public by Secretary Lansing,
without comment. The protest was
read by Joseph c. Grew, the American
charge d'affaires at Berlin, to Won
Bethmann Hollweg, the German chan
cellor. 1t was sent by Secretary Lam
sing under direct instructions from
President Wilson.
The announcement made by the sec
rotary follows:
''On Nov. 20, Mr.. Grew, our charge
at Berlin, was directed to obtain an
interview with the German chancellor
and read to him the following:
"'The government of the United
States has learned with the greatest
concern and regret Of the policy OF the
German government to deport from
Belgium portion Of the civilian pop
ulation for the purpose of FORCING
them to labor in Germany, and is con-
trained to protest in a friendly spirit
but most solemnly against this action.
which is in contravention of all pre-
Of international practice which have
long been accepted and followed oy
civilized nations in their treatment OF
noncombatants in conquered territory
Furthermore, the government OF
the United States is convinced that the
effect Of this policy, if pursued, Will
be in all probability fatal to Belgian
relief work, so humanely planned and
so successfully carried out, result
which would be generally deplored,
and which, it is assumed, would SER
iously embarrass the German govern
ment.
THE interview has taken place"
Secretary Lansing would not discuss
the action taken by this government,
and it was impossible to ascertain
what action, if any, the German gov
eminent had taken, or whether it had
made any response to the protest.
The decision to protest formally fol-
lowed unsuccessful informal efforts by
Charge Grew, under instructions that
he say informally to the Berlin For
eign Office that the deportations were
having a most unavoidable effectt on
neutrals, particularly the United
States. The Charge was informed in
reply that the policy was adopted as
a military necessity, and that Ger
many regarded it as legal.
On Nov. IA, the day that it became
known that the first representations
had been made by the United States,
cable dispatches indicated that the
Vatican, as we'll as the Spanish and
Netherlar@-~ governments, was max
ing representations to Germany in re-
against the deportation Of
Belgians, and the statement was ca
bled from abroad that the United
States, Spain, the Netherlands, and
the Vatican were approaching Ger
many Jointly" with a view to putting
a stop to Belgian deportations. At the
State Department it was denied that
the United States was participating in
any joint action.
On Nov. IL the Belgian minister M.
made public the text Of the
communication he had handed to Sec
rotary Lansing, in which the Belgian
government asked s'the active inter-
vention Of the government of the
United States to obtain the cessation
Of this deportation OF Belgian work.
men into Germany and. to obtain the
liberation Of those who have already
been deported.''
Again, on Nov. "a, the Belgian min
Ister handed to Secretary Lansing a
second protest, which stated that the
situation in Belgium was becoming,
more terrible every day. and begged
this government ito urge the German
government to consider the conse-
quences of the rimes against the
laws Of humanity committed in its
name"
1t was after receiving this protest
that President Wilson directed Secre-
tary Lansing to instruct Mr.. Grew to
deliver the textual protest