The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-02-28

10 not go to perform glorious duty. /
They are slaves in chains who, in n
lark exile, threatened by hunger,
prison, death, will be called upon to
perform the most odious work-service
to the enemy against the fatherland.
Rights of Honor and Conscience.
"The mothers cannot stand by while |
such an abomination is taking place
without making their voices heard In |
protest.
"They address you in the name of |
the unalterable rights of honor and
conscience.
ut has been said that women are all
powerful suppliants.'
'We have felt authorized by this
saying, Mr.. Minister, to extend our
hands to you and to address to your
country last appeal.
eve trust that in reading these lines
you will feel at each word the unhap-
by heartbeeats of the Belgian women
and will find in your broad and hui
name sympathy imperative reasons for
Intervention.
"Only the united will of the neutral
peoples energetically expressed can
counterbalance that Of the German au-
thorities.
"This assistance which the neutral
nations can and, therefore, ought to
lend us, will it be refused to the OPP
pressed Begians?
"Be good enough to accept, Mr.. Min
lister, the homage of our most distin-
guished consideration"
(Signed by a number of Belgian
women and "a societies.)
The United States government did
not fail to respond to this touching APP
peal and to others Of a similar nature.
The American embassy at Berlin
promptly took up the burning question
of the deportations with the chancellor
and other representatives of the Ger
man government. In an interview
with the under secretary of state for
foreign affairs, Mr.. Grew was handed
an official statement of the German
plans, which is, In translation, as fol-
lows:
German Camouflage.
against the unemployed in Belgium,
who are a burden to public charity,
in order to avoid friction arising there.
from, compulsory measures are to be
adopted to make them work so far as
they are not voluntarily inclined to
work, in accordance with the regula-
ton issued May Is, 1916, by the gov
ernOr general. In order to ascertain
such persons the assistance of the mu-
nicipal authorities is required for the
district of the governor general in
Brussels, while in the districts outside
of the general government, /. e., in the
provinces of Flanders, lists were de
manded from the presidents of the
local relief committees containing thu
names of persons receiving relief. Fol
the sake of establishing uniform pro
cedure the competent authorities have
in the meantime, been instructed t.
make the necessary investigations re
garding such persons also in Flander
through the municipal authorities
Furthermore, presidents of local relic
committees who may be detained 70
having refused to furnish such lsit
will be released"
Mr.. Grew pointed out that the depor
tations were a breach of faith ant
would injure the German caus
abroad. In his official summary of tn
says;
81 then discussed in detail with tn
under secretary of state for foreign al
fairs the unfortunate impression whic
this decision would make abroad, re
minding him that the measures wer
In principle contrary to the assurance
given to the ambassador by the char
cellOr at general headquarters las
spring and dwelling on the effect whic
the policy might have on England's a
titude towards relief work in Belgium
: l said / understood that the measure
had been promulgated solely by til
military government in Belgium an
2 that / thought the matter ought c
least to be brought to the chancellor
q personal attention in the light of I'll
| consequences which the new polio
q would entail Herr Zimmerman int
r mated in reply that the foreign offiC
z had very little influence with the mil
$ tary authorities and that it was III
likely that the new policy in Belglu
= could be revoked. He stated, HOY
: ever, in answer to my inquiry, that
v would not disapprove of my seeing Il
+ chancellor about the matter"
O Solemn Protest by United States.
The formal protest of the Unite
9 States was as follows:
"The government of the Unite
: States has learned with the create
v concern and regret of the policy of Il
! German government to deport fro
o Belgium a portion of the civilian pop
r lation with the result of forcing the
a to labor in Germany, and is constrain'
to protest in a friendly spirit but mo
solemnly against this action which
II in contravention of all precedent al
= those humane nrinrinlpS of intern