Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-04
To Remain In Belgium.


not withdraw till the military con-
querors make it impossible for her to
continue. The one hundred Americans
who have from the wars beginning
proved the directing genius for the
greatest and the longest sustained re-
lief work in history will remain at their
posts until the Germans force them
across the frontier. Brand W hltlock,
American minister to Belgium, Will re-
! main in Brussels until forced to the
present seat of Belgian government in
Havre, France.
| Minister Havenith called at the de-
f, partment yesterday afternoon in the
greatest anxiety at this latest blow to
| Belgium. His feelings were torn be-
! tween the stunning possibility of the
! withdrawal of American relief and the
| ioy at the thought of another neutral
standing behind his nation's.resurrec-
! ton.
/ Belgian relief ships will continue to
/ run for the present, it is understood
, here, and every attempt made to secure
their immunity from German attack
t If food from this country is cut off Bel
GUM will be reduced to an almost
helpless state, as it VIII be impossible
to spare either food or tonnage from
| the other belligerent or neutral ma
! lions. If the United States is ham
pered in this work it will be regarded
| by entente sympathiZers as the final
act to make Germany an outlaw ma
| ton.
Million Prisoners Will Suffer.
! AS to prisoners, the United States
| represents the interests Of at least
one million, and probably two million
| men, in the countries from which Ger
many has forced the withdrawal of
American diplomats. Often it has been
1
tween these helpless unfortunateS. I'M
befriended in the midst of enemy
country, and threatened reprisal, in
tolerable prison conditions, inadequate
| food and even epidemics of disease.
American officials have been untiring
in their efforts under conditions al
most intolerably difficult.
No exact figures are obtainable here
as to the numbers of prisoners repre-
sented, as all that work has been ca--
ried on by American officials who have
reported directly to belligerent coun-
tries. In Russia alone, however, there
are known to be over 100000, with an
other 100000 in England, and very
large numbers in France and Germany.
Germany's interests in seven coun-
tries and the large sections of Egypt
rand Morocco, the last two very i'm
portant, have been turned away from
American sympathy and aid to whom
ever neutral Germany can find to ac-
cept the work. The State Department
yesterday instructed its officials repre-
senting German interests in England,
france, Russia, Japan, Rumania, Ser
bia, Greece. Egypt and Morocco to sus-
pend all activities along that line and
await Information to be conveyed
through some neutral government to
whom Germany wishes those interests
surrendered.
None Can Take Place of U. S.
German interesfs rndoubta5,y will,
suffer severely result of this indi-
rect effect of her action in forcing the
United States to the step she has taken.
1t will take some time for inexperienced
hands to pick up all the threads and
master the detail. Moreover, no nation
still neutral has either the facilities or
the position to secure the results the
United States has been able to secure
for Germany.
The entente allies also are made to
suffer indirectly through Germany's &C
ton, as the great relief work built up
through the American embassy in Ber-
lin, safeguarding British, Japanese, Ru-
manian and Serbian interests, has been
overturned. The American embassy
over British interests to Holland; Japa-
nese and Serbian to Spain and Ru-
manian to Spain temporarily, pending
word from that government.
All American conSulS were instructed
to leave Germany at the same time AM
bassador Gerard's recall was ordered
Spain was yesterday asked to take over
all American interests. diplomatic and
consular. and 1t is expected she will COM
ply. German consuls in this country are
expected by this government to be with
drawn and to leave the country imrne-
diately. Germany will be given oppor-
tunity to arrange this before consuls'
exequaturs are Cancelled by this govern
ment
Aliens Free Tn Roth Countries