The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-25
Lives No Longer Safe In Ger
man Controlled Territory
Even On Errand of Mercy
WHlTLOCK ORDERED
TO MOVE TO HAVRE
Berlin Fails to Even Reply to
Protests Against Sinking of
Belgian Relief Ships-Neth-
erlands Will Continue Work

Washington, March 24,--Grave con-
Germ as to the safety of Minister
Brand Whitlock. and his fcllow-Aner-
leans in Belgium, was apparent here
tonight. Following the announce
ment OF the state department that
Germanys attitude no longer war
ranted Americans remaining in Ger
man occupied territory. and the state
ment that Whitlock and the relief
workers had been ordered out Of Bel
GUM by President Wilson. /, was said
tonight that an effort would be made
to hasten the transportation OF these
Americans to neutral soil. They Will
probably leave Belgium by way Of
Holland, leaving to the Dutch the ad-
ministration OF the relief work among
the millions OF destitute Belgians.
Coucbcd in Vigorous Language.
The state department announce
ment of the withdrawal OF the Amer
leans was couched in the most vigor
Gus language the administration has
used during the international crisis.
II declared that in order to feed the
Belg.ans, the Americans involved
have submitted to restrictions i'm
posed upon them by the German au-
thorities which under ordinary con-
ditions would never have been toll
Grated The Germans. according to
lRS statement teFIiNtu N4HAaits
Whitlock Of an diplomatic privileges
ted States and Germany were broken.
The Official Statement
The official statement follows:
BY direction Of the president. the
minister at Brussels has been in
structed TO withdraw from Belgium
with all diplomatic and consular Of
ficers, and take up his Official resi-
'dence at Hapre After consultation
with the com mission for relief In Bel
GUM, Mr. Whulock has also been IN
Structed to arrange fer the departure
OF the American members of the
commission.
This step, the seriousness of which
Is fully appreciated by the govern
consideration and fun consultation
with All the interests involved. When
d diplomatic relations with Germany
were broken OFT the normal procedure
would have been to Withdraw the
minister at Brussels and the Amer
can members of the relief commits
sion. Both this government and the
commission, however. felt tseavy
moral responsibility for the millions
OF innocent civilians behind the Ger
man lines. and it was decided that the
work Of the commission must Ice kept
going despite all difficulties until con-
tinued American participation became
impossible For over two years Il
has been the single minded purpose
OF this government and the commits
sion 10 see that these 10 1000, GOO of
civilians were fed, and with this end
in view the Americans concerned have
submitted to restrictions imposed
upon them by German authorities,
which under ordinary conditions.
would never have been tolerated,
immediately after the break In re-
lations the German authorities in
Brussels withdrew from Mr.. Whitiock
the diplomatic privileges and immu
mites which he had until that time en-
ioyed His courier service to the
Hague was stopped he was denied
the privilege OF communicating with
the department of state in cipher.
and later even IN plain language The
mem hers or the relief commission