Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-10
PUBLIC OPINION
TO DECIDE COURSE
IN SAVING bE:LG|ANS
Diplomacy Exhausted in Eff
forts to Halt DepOrta-
ti0ns by Germany.
THIS GOVERNMENT WANTS
TO KNOW VIEWS OF PEOPLE
State Department Exceeds Con-
ventional Bounds in Eagerness
to Emphasize Position.
REPLY soon Is EXPECTED
Personal Views Of President to BE
Laid Before German Oil
cials by Gerard.
THIS GOVERNMENT WANTS
TO KNOW VIEWS OF PEOPLE
REPLY soon IS EXPECTED
Personal Views Of President to BE
Laid Before German Oil
cials by Gerard.
NV As.oclrt"d Prcss.

WASiilNGTON. December a.-Aner-
lean public opinion will decide wha,
steps. If any. the government shall Ike
10 follow NJ its protest TO Germany
agaius; tho dcportatious of Bclgiais
Chancellor Won Eethmann-iioilweG $
conversation with Charge Crew. Of the
American embassy In Berlin has con
vinccd state Dcpartmcnt officials that
Gcrmanys formal reply 10 tho Amer
lean protest will hold the deportations
justified on the ground of social ne
"cssity
II was admitted unrcscrv.Gly to-day
tina, the action OF tho stat. Depart
mcnt In publishing the text OF th"
protest was for The purpose OF sound
ing public opinion on the subject. now
that the ordinary resources Of diplo-
macy have been exhausted
Whether Gcrmauy's reply Will be
made public OF answered with fur
thor note viii not be decided until the
attitude or the Americam public has
been sounded out. ANA the actual text
OF the German answer has been
examined
The state Department Is conscious
that II already has exceeded the con
Ncnttonal hounds OF diplomacy in max
ing several informal as we'll as formal
approximations in the case. but IL is
eager 10 emphasize It's position IN every
reasonable way. The personal views
Of President Wilson are yet to be laid
before German officials By Ambassador
Gerard. now on his way back TO Berlin
OBNOXIOUS PRINCIPLE
VIRTUALLY INALTERED
Official information shows that the
deportations are continuing. and II is
the opinion here that whatever modi-
rcations the Germans may put into
practice. the obnoxious principle Of de
purtatou remains virtually unal,cred
some Of The statements reported to
be contained In the German reply differ
widely. from tn" Official information
reaching the department. especially as
10 the severity with which the deporta-
tons are being carried out The de-
;mcnt has been convinced that the
pi"yed and those Of independent
cans have been taken indiscrimi
unteiy with the unemployed and III.
dependent.
Officials do not desire TO enter into
q long argument with Germany as 10
details, and are satisfied with the nc-
curacy of their information 10 date
The general failure OF the representa-
tons OF the United States Holland.
spain and the Vatican is causing in
crensinE concern here for the contin-
u"ncc OF relief work in Belgium. espe-
cia!y I'm view OF Official statements
from England that Gertnany's action
was threatening the whole foundation
OF Belgian relief.
belgian Minister IIavcnith called at
The State Department to-day 10 c>
press his gratitude for the American
protest and TO inquire If there had
been any Developments lie believes
Germany cannot fail to heed pro-
test or American public opinion