New-York tribune., 1919-11-23
Ne,c York Tribune
Washington Bureau

washington bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-The War
Department to-day issued the following
statement, which is in substance the
reply of the State Department to an
inquiry concerning the return of bodies
of American soldiers buried in France:
"The matter of the disposition of the
American dead in France has long been
receiving the earnest consideration of
the Secretary of State and, at the in
stance of the Secretary of War, in
whose hands the matter primarily lies,
there has been repeated effort to ad
just the restrictions which the French
government has found itself under the
necessity of declaring.
Briefly the situation is as follows:
During the summer Of 1918 an agree
ment was concluded between the
French and American governments
which provided that as soon as hostili-
ties have ceased the government of the
French Republic will examine con-
jointly with the American government
the measures to be taken to insure, in
conformity with the laws and police
regulations hygiene. the transport and
return to the United States of the
bodies of American soldiers or sailors
inferred in France
Many Problems Involved
Following the armistce and during
the period in which the War Depart
ment was engaged with the huge task
of transporting the expeditionary forces
back to America, the French govern
ment gave consideration to the many
problems involved in the possible re-
enemy dead in French territory, and
orders were thereupon issued forbid
ding the removal from French soil Of
the bodies of the military dead of all
nations.
Representation was Immediately
made through diplomatic channels Of
the desire of the American government
that exception be made in it's favor
from the operation Of this prohibition.
The French government, however,
asked that there be a consideration
of its situation, first of all, by the
American military authorities as pre-
liminary to further diplomatic corre-
spondence. 1t gave assurance of its
desire to meet the wishes of the Ameri-
can nation in every way consistent
with its obligations an dthe wellbeing
of its own people, and emphasized it's
wish to set apart appropriate ceme-
teries as service of gratitude and to
assist in their maintenance with be-
coming dignity.
Decline to Make Exception
ut stated that it had given due con-
slderation to the various aspects in
volyed in the transportation of millions
of military dead over it's national rail
ways or highways, and pointed out
what it considered the insuperablc diff
culties of transportation, sanitary reg
ulations. the public health, effective
registration and problems of recon-
struction. 1t further stated that,
should an exception be made in the
case of American dead, it would at
once involve each Of the other nations
in clamorous agitation for like action
to satisfy it's own people, and called at
tention to the extensive operations in
the unheaval of cemeteries which
would result from a compliance with
the American request, and the conse-
quent depressing effect on the public
morale.
France, it declared, would become a
veritable charnel house if such extern
sive exhumations should take place.
Finally, it expressed its strong hope
that some solution could be found
whereby the date of removal could be
postponed.
From the American standpoint it has
been felt that there were many con-
siderations which differentiated the
case of American soldiers buried in
France from those Of other Allied ma
tions. 1t was realized that to make
an exception in favor Of America was
by no means free from difficulty; but