The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-02

battlefelds with that Of their sons.
''Those who are taken away today
do not go to perform & glorious duty.
They are slaves in chains who, in u
dark 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 ahomination is taking place
| without making their voices heard In
| protest.
"They address you in the name Of
the unalterable rights of honor and
conscience.
1T has been said that women are all
| powerful suppliants.'
1--WE have felt authorized by this
saying, Mr.. Minister, to extend our
hands to you and to address to your
country last appeal.
1--WE trust that in reading these lines
you will feel at each word the unhap-
py heartbeeats Of the Belgian women
and will find in your broad and hu-
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
thnr0foya IN
lend us, will it be refused to the op-
pressed Belgians?
"Be good enough - 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 ap-
peal and to others Of q 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 camouflaoe.
against the unemployed In Belgium.
who are q burden to public charity.
In order to avoid friction arising there.
from, compulsory measures are to be
adopted to make them work 50 far az
they are IT voluntarily inclined to
work. In accordance WITH the regula-
tion issued May Is la1A b. the gov
ernor general n order to ascertain
such persons the asdstanoe Of the mu-
nicipal authorities Il required Tor tn
district Of the governor general In
Brussels, while In the districts outside
Of the general government l. e.. ip the
provinces Of Flandera Lists we're de-
manded from the presadente Of the
local relief committees containing ths
names Of persons receiving relief For
the sake Of establishing uniform pro-
cedure the competent authorities have,
~ &10 mC1OSAuSs Uo00 AJSSXUcUO "
make the necessary investigations re.
garding 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 lsits
will be released"
Mr.. Grew pointed out that the dcpor-
tations were a breach Of faith and
would injure the German ca,ae
abroad. In his official summary OF ae
negotiations which he carried en- he
says:
II then discussed In detail with tn ,
under secretary of state for foreign ::
fairs the unfortunate impression wilt
this decision would make abroad. v,
minding him that the measures wer.
in principle contrary to the ASSURANCES
given to the ambassador by the chan.
cellor at general headquarters last
spring and dwelling on the effect which
the policy might have on England's at
titude towards relief work in Belgium. |
I said I understood that the measures
had been promulgated solely hy the
military government in BelGid rand |
ss.z Z .s.sc=Az TIA zz=-::.ae 1EjAf at |