The New York herald., 1920-01-15
Herald bureau.
No. 1,s02 VI street. n. W.,

Wnshington, ID. C., Wednesday,.
Alleged attempts OF organizations of
undertakers to commercialize sentiment
for the removal OF American soldier dead
in France and 10 make big profits there
day by Representative Charles Pope Cald-
well. Democrat. OF New York.
At the sane time he announced that the
= War Department has completed arrange
ments To bring hack approximately II, 900
soldier dead now inferred outside the war
zone in France, and that negotiations with
France probably will be completed shortly
to remove all American dead where rela-
dives desire such removal.
Resolutions adopted here today by dele
gates representing many branches OF the
Bring Home the Soldier Dead League
urging France to remove the ban against
the removal of American dead from the
war zone. were presented 10 tho State De-
partment by A. b Fopcf, of New York
president of the league. The department
promised that a copy Of the resolution
would be communicated to the French
government in d new note as part of the
diplomatic negotiations. IN order to aid in
giving clearer understanding to French
officials that refusal TO allow removal OF
bodies viii bring grief to thousands Of
American homes.
Urges Return of Dead.
Mr. Caldwell inserted in the record a
copy of a statement published. it was
said in The Casket, New York publica-
ton, urging the support ST legislation for
the removal of American dead in France,
which stated that for nearly every Amer
lean soldier returned some funeral director
will be called upon to perform the neces-
sary duties of reception 2nd burial"
C,tI r,a1ff orlru 4, fad n
good deal of feeling, which may bring
about a Congressional investigation Sew
eral Senators, including Senator Lodge,
of Massachusetts, and Senator Thomas,
OF Colorado, already have suggested the
advisability of an investigati ton.
In speaking of the subject today, Mr..
Caldwell denounced the apparent activi-
ties of the undertalkers in severe terms.
1T is despicable that any class of men
in this country should seek to capitalize
the sorrow of those who have lost their
dearest ones," said Mr.. Caldwell, and too
much cannot be said in condemnation OF
IL.
Mr. Caldwell had read to the House
letter he received from Newton d. Baker
Explaining the whole situation. and en-
closing copies of hitherto confidential
cablegrams which passed between various
American officials, together with excerpts
of French regulations governing the re-
moval of American dead in France.
The text of the Secretary's letter fol-
lows
Dear Mr.. Caldwell:-Your note of yes
terday reached me this morning. inform
ing me that "A statement reaches this
country, embodied in a letter from one of
the attaches of the Paris Embassy, to the
effect that decision as to the return OF
our military dead does not rest with the
Erench government but with the Ameri-
Van military authorities who have decided
Hor the present that no remains shall be
returned to the United States within three
years / am particularly grateful TO you
for having called my attention TO this
matter because II is highly important
that a statement so thoroughly unfounded
should be quickly corrected.
Happily, the files of the War Depart
ment, which is informed from time to time
by the State Department concerning the
international aspects of the matter, con-
tain documents which will dispel any
existing uncertainty.