Evening star., 1916-12-12
u. s: M|S|NFORMED,
SAYS GERMAN REPLY
Declares Belgian Deportations
Were Necessary to Prevent
Decentralization.
U. S. INSPECTION INVITED
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
| BERLIN, December II, via London, De-
cember IL. - Germany's answer to the
American note regarding the deportation
Of Belgians is confined almost exclusively
/ to presentation of the situation in Bel
GUM before the deportation order be-
came effective. The note declares that
there was urgent need of some kind Of
! work for the Belgians. because their idle
ness was causing Decentralization, and
says that the deported workers are as
sured Of well being In new situations in
Germany.
The reply volunteers to permit Amer
lean diplomatic representatives to visit
| the workmen's camps and assure them
selves that the Belgians are well Off. 1t
concludes with an expression Of regret
that the United States has never seen .f1t
| to protest against what 1t describes as
the dragging off of Germans from East
Prussia, Alsace and other places to
Siberia and elsewhere. These actions. OF
which it accuses the allies. are character
| ized in the reply as a severe violation of
the laws of humanity.
Convinced of Misinformation.
The note declares that the German gov
ernment is convinced that the United
States has been misinformed in regard
to the measures which have been taken,
and says that the lack Of work has in
creased until 1,250.000 were suffering, and
an unbearable situation Is created. Moth
Ing remained, therefore, the note con-
tinues. but to offer the workless situa-
tions in Germany, since work for all was
not at hand in Belgium. 1t is contended
that the majority Of those who have come
to Germany are happy and contented
with high wages and increased personal
liberties, and that only those who prefer
Held in Accord With Law.
The answer declares that the measure
is entirely in accord with international
law and cites article 43 Of The Hague
convention. which requires an invading
government to maintain order. This.
it is maintained, is possible only in
Belgium by providing that people who
are able to work shall have opportu-
nifty to do so and shall not fall a bur-
en- on charity. The note says that the
measure has been carried out without
severity and with all possible oonsid-
Grafton. Mistakes. it asserts, have
rarely occurred, and have been due in
part 10 tHc IdCl Iudl DclSldHS tHcIn-
selves erred in making up the lists of
those to be transported to Germany by
including persons unaffected by Gov.
Gen. Bissing's order of May Is, 1916
Regrets Misrepresentation.
The note goes on to say that Belgians
now working in Germany are engaged
without exception in occupations per-
missible under international law, such
as legitimate agricultural and indus
trial pursuits. ard that the German
government regrets extremely that the
situation has been completely misrep-
resented in the United States by the
lying press Of Germany's enemies"
The German government, it Is de-
clared, in the interest of the Belgian
population. would also regret if the
activities Of the Belgian relief COM
mission were affected.
The secretary for foreign affairs. DR.:
Alfred Zimmermann. yesterday handed
to the secretary of the American en-
bassy. Joseph C. Grew. the German re-
ply to the American representations.