The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1918-07-25

not fail 10 respond to This touching aP-
peal and to others Il Il similar nature.
The American embassy ut Berlin
promptly too; UP the burning question
If III dcportationS with the chancellor
and other representatives of the Ger
man government. In IN interview
wiki the Cnder secretary Of state for
foreisn affairs. Mr.. Grew was handed
an official statement Of the German
plans, which is, in translation. as fol-
lows:
German canouf!ese.
"Agains. the unemployed in Belgium,
who are burden 10 public charity,
in order To avoid friction arising there
from. compulsory measures are to he
adopted To maxi them work 81 far as
;hey are not voluntarily inclined TO
work. in accord, nee with the regula-
ZION issued May IL. 1916. by the guy
ernor general. In order 20 ascertain
sgeh persons the assistance OF the nut
n!cipal authorities is required for the
dis,ricI ri the governor General n
BRUSSELS, While il the districts outside
Of the general government. i. e., in the
provinces II FLINDERS. lists We're de-
handed from the presidents Of the
.ccal relief committees containing The
names OF persons receiving relief. For
the sake ii establishing uniform pro-
cetlure the competent authorities have,
iu The meantime, been Instructed ia
r,
Garding such persons also in flanders
through lie municipal authorities !;
furthermore, presidents of local relief
committees who may he detained for
having refused 10 furnish such LISTS
will be rele;, Sed.'
Mr.. Grew nointed out that the depor-
tations We're Il breach 0f faith and
would iniure the German cause
abroad. IN his Official summary Of the
negotiations which he carried Oh ne
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 thar the measures were
in principle contrary to the assurances
given To the ambassador hy the chan
cellor at general headquarters last
spring and dwelling on the effect which
the policy might have on ERgland's at
titude towards relief work in Belgium.
I said l understood that the measures
had been promulgated solely by the
mill AIRY government in Belgium and
that | thought the matter ought at
least TO be brought 10 the chancellor's
personal attention in the light of TIE
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 il WAS I'M
likely that the new policy in Eelgium
could be revoked. He stated, how
ever, in answer to my inquiry, that he
chancellor about the matter.
Solemn Protest by United States.
The formal protest of the United
States was as follows:
The government of the ~Cnited
States has learned with the greatest
concern and regret Of the policy of the
German government il deport from
Belgium portion of the civilian pnpu-
lation with the result of forcing thSln
TO labor in Germany, and is constrained
TO protest in friendly spirit but most
solemnly against this action which is
in contravention of all precedent and
those humane principles Of inteiIe
tional practice which have long bs@
accepted and followed by civilized ma
tons in their treatment of noncomba-
tants in conquered territory. Further
more, the government OF the United
States is convinced that the effect Of
this policy if pursued will in all prob
ability be fatal TO the Belgian relief
work. so humanely planned SO Sue
cessfully carried out, Il result which
would be generally deplored and
which, Ii is assumed, would seriously
cmbarrass the German government
This protest was followed by those
IF the pope. the king of Spain, the
government of Switzerland and other
neutrals. They were of no avail, ex-
cept. perhaps, 10 lead the German au-
thorities 10 draw a tighter veil over
their detestable proceedings. But the
evidence has in some measure come
through. although the full facts will
not be known until the liberation of
heroic Belgium.