The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-17


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 camoufIage.
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 10, 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, i. e., in the
provinces of Flanders, lists were de-
manded from the presidents of the
local relief committees containing the
names of persons receiving relief. For
the sake OF establishing uniform pro-
cedure the competent authorities have,
Ia the meaDtime, been instructed tC
make the necessary investigations re-
gardlng such persons also in Flanders
through the municipal authorities;
furthermore presidents of local relief
committees who may be detained for
having refused to furnish such LISTS
| will be released"
Mr.. Grew pointed out that the depor-
/ tations were a breach of faith and
would injure the German cause
| abroad. III his official summary of the
! negotiations which he carried on he
says:
| Il then discussed in detail with the
under secretary of state for foreign af-
fairs the unfortunate impression which
this decision would make abroad, re-
! minding him that the measures were
III principle contrary to the assurances
| given to the ambassador by the chan
ceIlor at general headquarters last
spring and dwelling on the effect which
the policy might have on Englands at
| titude towards relief work in Belgium.
| said | understood that the measures
had been promulgated solely by the
| military government in Belgium and
that | thought the matter ought at
least to be brought to the chancellor's
personal attention in the light of the
consequences which the new policy
would entail. Herr Zimmerman init
mated in reply that the foreign office
had very little influence with the mill
tary authorities and that it was up-
likely that the new policy in Belgium
could be revoked. He stated, how
ever, in answer to my inquiry, that he
would not disapprove of my seeing the
chancellor about the matter"
Solemn Protest BY United States
The formal protest of the United
States was as follows:
, THE government of the United
States has learned with the greatest
concern and regret Of the policy of the
German government to deport from
Belgium a portion of the civilian popu
, latiOn with the result of forcing then
, to labor.in Germany, and is constrained
! to protest in friendly spirit but mos
Solemnly against this action which il
in contrayention of all precedent ant
t those humane principles of interna
7 tional practice which have long beer
accepted and followed by civilized ma
r tons in their treatment of nOncomba
tants in conquered territory. Further
5 more, the government of the United
States is convinced that tie effect O
r this policy if pursued will in all prob
5 ability be fatal to the Belgian relic
: work, SO humanely planned so sue
/, ceSsfully carried, out, a result which
/ would be generally deplored AM
: which, it is assumed, would seriousl,
!, embarrass the German government"
: This protest was followed by thos
S of the pope, the king of Spain, tn
government of Switzerland and othe
D neutrals. They were of no avail, ex
! cept, perhaps, to lead the German an
t thorities to draw a tighter veil owe
S their detestable proceedings. But tn
evidence has in. some measure com
r through, although the full facts vii
/. not be known until the liberation o
n