The Washington times., 1917-06-09
Chicago. June I. 1911.
Wants Arrangements Made for Ex-
change Of Messages WITH Relatives
In Central Powers Territory.

change Of Messages With Relatives
In Central Powers TERRITORY.
To the Editor Of THE TINES:
For humanlty's sake, / request
your assistance in the following mat
ter, which is Of vital interest to many
Of your readers:
Many families in ne United States
have had no news from close reia-
tives living in the territory Of the
central powers or vice versa since
Great Britain interfered with the
mails7 Can you imagine the mental
agony OF parents who have had no
Lewis whatsoever from their children
since the war started, or what a daily
worry IL Is for q wife who has not
heard from her husband since IoI4R
Such unfortunate parties live in large
numbers among US. Some OF them
are United States citizens. but in this
case 1t is entirely immaterial OF what
nationality the parties are.
They can easily be delivered of
their intense anxiety, especially as
the United States IL not a neutral
power any more, and Great Britain
would now accept American censor
ship of family messages to and from
parties living in the territory OF the
central powers.
], therefore, suggest that q special
Office should Immediately be estab-
lished in Washington for the assist
ance OF the free and prompt exchange
OF personal messages with parties re-
siding in the territory Of the central
powers. This department should pub
llsh in the newspapers Its purpose,
and copy several times all messages
received and censored. and forward
the copies separately in embassy
bags to our Representatives In Switz-
erland. Sweden. and Holland for
transmission through a neutral en-
bassy to the embassies OF Germany in
these countries. As the censored
will take several weeks for
spy work will be Inn
possible In connection with these mes
Bages.
should spare Ne Expense.
Such an arrangement will cost
money, but the United States has al
ways been generous where Il II
matter OF humanity. and where I'M
told agony can be stopped no EFFORT
and expense should be spared
When the war broke out, ]. United
States citizen, offered my services TO
the American embassy at Berlin
While working at the American EN-
bassy we received thousands Of per-
sonal messages through our embassy
At London from parties residing In
Great Britain for Transmission to
relatives in Germany. The help which
we gave TO relatives living In enemy
countries to communicate with eacn
other was the nnest work of charity
one can cohesive. / shall never for
get the expression Of relief and the
tears of gratitude Of a lady when /
Informed her that her daughter In
London was we'll You can imagine
the pleasure of families In Great
Britain when they heard through US
that their relatives In Germany were
well taken care OF.
Arrangement Can BE MADE.
1 have heard that the Red Cross at
Geneva. Switzerland. sometimes
transmits messages. II the Red
Cross at Geneva should undertake to
do this work on q large scale. i
think the United States could assist
by accepting the messages in Wash
Ington, censoring and duplicating
them there. and forwarding them
.quitably In the embassy pouches to
Geneva, so that we may be sure they
reach their destination
1 wrote to Robert Lansing. Secre-
tary Of State, on May 20. regarding |
, personal message which I wish to
have forwarded to Germany. but so
'ar have received no reply. / was
informed by the Swiss legation in
that II could not accept
messages for transmission to Ger
many.
A satisfactory working arrange
nent for the exchange Of messages
between relatives, no matter to what
they may belong. can be
made, and should be made. and II 1t
,as been tried and the attempt has
Tot been a success, then the public
IhouId be informed Of the results
trough the daily newspapers. I am
Iurs II will do no harm to ou- coun-
~ " the public has full knowledge
II all that has been done In this mat
err.
er. OTTO p. sCHwARZSCHILD.