No. 636.] Minister Stovall to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Berne, March 12, 1917. American prisoners from Yarrowdale, to the number of 59, arrived Mr. Stovall informs the Department of the receipt of a report from the Consul General at Zurich that no complaint was made by the men of the Yarrowdale of their treatment while on the high seas or in camp near Swindemunde which was their first camp. They were first transferred to Brandenburg about January 10, where, according to their statement, their treatment by the officers was very harsh. It was impossible for them to keep warm. They were kept standing in the cold and snow. Their food consisted, after one cup of coffee in the morning, mostly of boiled, frosted cabbage; once a week beans; and once a week mush. The only sickness they mentioned from which they suffered was one case of lumbago. They knew nothing of any cases of contagious diseases. Minister Stovall to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] No. 656.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Mr. Stovall reports having personally conversed with the crews on board the Yarrowdale as to the treatment received by them and submits the following supplementary report: The most cruel and heartless treatment was accorded the shipwrecked American sailors from the moment of their arrival in Ger many January 3d. The weather was very cold and they were given no suitable clothes. There was an entire insufficiency of the usual prison food. The statement was made by M. J. Connolly belonging to the crew of the steamship Georgic that a German officer had, without provocation, severely kicked him in the abdomen. This assault is still causing Connolly severe suffering. The arm of Albert Depew of Yonkers, New York, was in a bandage. This was due to a wound caused by shrapnel shot by the Germans at an open boat in which, after the sinking of the Georgic, he and his comrades had taken refuge. Statements were made by all of the men that so inhuman has been their treatment that, in case during their voyage home a submarine was sighted, they would prefer immediate drowning rather than any further experience with the German prison camps. This inhuman treatment was inflicted upon these seamen a month before relations were broken between the United States and Germany and while the most cordial friendship for America was professed by Germany. Harlington last American citizen of Yarrowdale prisoners left for Denmark by Warnemunde, 13th instant. WILLARD. Consul General Hurst to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, Remaining twenty-six members of Yarrowdale crew sailed from Barcelona yesterday on steamer Alicante of Spanish Line, due New York about May fourteenth. Also sailed on same steamer the eight officers of American steamer Seward, capture of which reported my telegram to Department April tenth, captain remaining Barcelona with crew. Mr. Grew reports that he has received from Minister Whitlock at Brussels copies of letters from the President of the Comité National de Secours et d'Alimentation of Brussels together with copies of orders in proof of the statements contained in the letters to the effect that complete lists of all workmen who are unemployed and who receive aid in the district (étape) have been demanded from the presidents of the local committees by the German military authorities, and that presidents were imprisoned if they refused to furnish the lists demanded. The President states that the object is to send such unemployed to Germany as laborers for military purposes. That men are forced to labor is proved by letters attached.1 No. 3497.] The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Grew. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 19, 1916. Mr. Polk states that if Mr. Grew should deem it advisable he may draw to the Foreign Minister's attention informally and orally the action of the German military authorities in Belgium and its object as alleged. 1 Not printed. No. 4511.] Chargé Grew to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, October 23, 1916. Mr. Grew reports that he has brought informally and orally to the attention of the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the question of the Belgian laborers. The Under Secretary has promised to investigate the matter at once and to inform Mr. Grew of the result. No. 4535.] Chargé Grew to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase-Extract.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, October 27, 1916. Mr. Grew states that he sought a further interview with the German Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs at which he told that official, informally and orally, that he understood the policy had been definitely determined upon by the military government in Belgium of enforcing labor on Belgian citizens, and that many of them would be transported to Germany to be put to work in various industries, in this way releasing German workmen to go to the front. A nemorandum was handed to Mr. Grew by the Under Secretary which states that compulsory measures are to be adopted against the Belgian unemployed who are a burden to charity so that friction arising therefrom may be avoided. These measures are designed to make them work, so far as the men are not inclined voluntarily to work. Mr. Grew reports that he pointed out that this decision, as it involved a definite breach of international law, undoubtedly would make a very bad impression abroad. No. 3539.] The Secretary of State to Chargé Grew. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 2, 1916. Mr. Lansing states that in view of the serious consequences that may follow as a result of the proposed policy in Belgium, apart from any humanitarian considerations, Mr. Grew is authorized to make request for an interview with the Chancellor. The extent to which his informal representations with the Chancellor should go is left to the discretion of Mr. Grew, who must be guided by the general attitude of the Chancellor and by circumstances. Mr. Grew should, however, point out the unfortunate impression which would be created by the proposed policy in neutral countries, and especially in the United States, which country has very much at heart the welfare of the Belgian civil population. The Secretary of State to Chargé Grew. [Telegram-Paraphrase-Extract.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 29, 1916. Mr. Grew is directed to obtain an interview with the German Chancellor as soon as possible and repeat to him the following: 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 population for the purpose of forcing them to labor in Germany, and is constrained to protest in a friendly spirit but most solemnly against this action, which is in contravention of all precedent and of those humane principles of international practice which have long been accepted and followed by civilized nations in their treatment of noncombatants in conquered territory. Furthermore, the Government of the United States is convinced that the effect of this policy, if pursued, will in all probability be fatal to the Belgian relief work, so humanely planned and so successfully carried out, a result which would be generally deplored and which, it is assumed, would seriously embarrass the German Government. |