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(Burgomaster's certificate) and who had a son who had been a voluntary workman in Germany for two years. He was his wife's only support (i. e., His pension was). His case was considered for a moment only and then he was passed on to go to Germany. The second was also a pensioned arsenal worker, but he had six small children (The oldest 12 years) and had a piece of land about twelve hectare in size which he had been cultivating. The officer examined his case and then turned to me with the remark "Of course this man goes free." He was then led to a side door where his indentification card was stamped and he was allowed to leave.

At this point I began to question the officer in charge and the officials who had accompained me, with regard to several general points on which I was not clear. I asked how the wife of the first man was to be supported in his absence since she would naturally not be paid the pension which he had received from the Belgian Gov. The answer was that the German Gov. would take care of her, and that anyway she could support herself on the earnings that her husband sent back from Germany. I asked what those could amount to. The answer assured me that if he was a good worker and saving, these might be as great as 120 Marks per month. I then asked what his pay would be if, as he had previously done, he refused to sign a voluntary contract. No definite answer. In fact I was told that I could get information of that sort from Berlin. I then asked whether any money had as yet been returned by workers in Germany, and was told that I could get those facts in Brussels. (As yet I have had no evidence that any money has been sent back.) I made a final effort to secure some information about the actual procedure when men once arrived in Germany, and what differences were made between those who had signed contracts, and those who hadn't, but was met with the response that they had but small knowledge of what happened to the men after they were deported.

I then turned my attention to the second man and asked why he had been let off. All the officials agreed that it was because he had six small children dependent on him. I at once asked if according to what I had just been told it would not be better for him to be deported, since he could earn so much more money in Germany. Slight hesitation, and then the officials who accompained me agreed that it would have been better for him to have gone to Germany, but that the officer in charge was unusually kind-hearted and had on that account let him off. This latter officer made no comment.

I now went on to the rest of the examination. Every man who claimed to be sick could be examined by two doctors. Just previous to the moment that I entered one man had been freed because of tuberculosis and another had been put on the deported list because instead of the catarrh from which he was supposoed to be suffering he had turned out to be violently intoxicated. But very few chose to

be examined by the doctors and of those examined (about 40 in all I believe) only a few had been freed.

As the men who were finally selected passed out of a side door of the building to be led to the waiting trains, they were relieved of all papers and their names were put in a book which was to be sent to the prison camp for which they were destined. I was told that those papers were to be carefully kept for future references in case a petition for repatriation was made with regard to any one of the men.

From the building to the train the men were led in groups of about thirty under heavy military escort. Standing beside the cars was a military field kitchen from which the men were fed a plate apiece of heavy barley & vegetable soup, in which was discernible very small pieces of meat. I tasted this soup, and it was good. On their trip to Germany the men were to be fed a similar ration every eight hours, provided the train in which they were ran according to schedule. The cars were the ordinary third-class cars and, at the time of my visit, were being heated.

About 300 men were taken in all. There were two interpreters in constant circulation among them, whose chief functions were to present coming events in a rosy light and to try to persuade men to sign contracts of work. I was told that if a man at any time changed his mind he could always sign a voluntary contract. This choice was reserved him at all stages of the trip to Germany and also at any moment during his confinement in the prison camp. While I was present only one took the alternative. His courage failed as he was about to enter the train, and he elected to stay in Belgium and work wherever the Germans assigned him.

The above statements are merely a literal presentation of the facts of one part of a small requisition. From reports received through other sources it is quite evident that this requisition was very exceptionally well conducted. Not a single man bearing a card from the C. R. B. was taken and, on the whole there were very few complaints and protests. Whether the orderliness and thoroughness were especially provided for this occasion, or whether the policy of deportations is to be actually limited to the unemployed, remains to be seen. At least it would seem as though the seven second examination per man were to be abolished for a more thorough procedure.

Minister Whitlock to the Secretary of State.

No. 429.]

AMERICAN LEGATION, Brussels, January 17, 1917.

SIR: With reference to my telegram of the 15th instant, No. 32,1 regarding the deportations of Belgians from the city of Brussels, I 1 Not printed.

have the honor to state that summonses to appear for examination are now being sent out by the German authorities, directing the men to appear on Saturday, the 20th instant, at the Gare du Midi.

The method of summoning the men is different from that employed hitherto, and indicates greater care in preparation. No announcements have been posted on the city walls; persons whom it is desired to examine are summoned individually by post card, and are at the same time advised as to the punishment to which they will expose themselves if they do not reply to the summons, the preparatory measures which they should take in view of a possible deportation, and the bureau to which they should apply in the event of their voluntary inscription for work in lieu of deportation.

A copy and translation of this post card of notification are inclosed herewith.

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Southern Railway Station (entrance from the Rue de France).

In the event that you should not obey the present summons, you would be deported at once by force; furthermore, you would be liable to a sentence of a maximum imprisonment for three months, or of a fine not exceeding 1,000 marks.

As it is possible that you may be sent to a place of work and that in such case you would not have further occasion to get into communication with the members of your family, you are advised to provide yourself with a blanket, with winter clothing, linen, and good boots.

Whoever signs a contract at the "Bureau de l'Industrie," Rue Marie Thérèse, 64, is offered work either in Germany or in Belgium on very advantageous conditions, and need not present himself at the station.

[SEAL.]

The present summons is to be exhibited.

COUNT VON SODEN, Colonel and Commandant.

PART IX.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE AMERICAN MINISTER FROM

BELGIUM.

Statement given to the press March 24, 1917.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 24, 1917.

By direction of the President the Minister at Brussels has been instructed to withdraw from Belgium, with all diplomatic and consular officers, and take up his official residence at Havre.

After consultation with the Commission for Relief in Belgium, Mr. Whitlock has also been instructed to arrange for the departure of the American members of the Commission.

This step, the seriousness of which is fully appreciated by the Government, was taken only after careful consideration and full consulation with all the interests involved.

When diplomatic relations with Germany were broken off the normal procedure would have been to withdraw the Minister at Brussels and the American members of the Relief Commission. Both this Government and the Commission, however, felt a heavy moral responsibility for the millions of innocent civilians behind the German lines, and it was decided that the work of the Commission must be kept going despite all difficulties until continued American participation became impossible. For over two years it has been the single-minded purpose of this Government and the Commission to see that these ten millions of civilians were fed, and, with this end in view, the Americans concerned have submitted to restrictions imposed on them by the German authorities which, under ordinary conditions, would never have been tolerated.

Immediately after the break in relations the German authorities in Brussels withdrew from Mr. Whitlock the diplomatic privileges

and immunities which he had until that time enjoyed. His courier service to The Hague was stopped; he was denied the privilege of communicating with the Department of State in cipher, and later even in plain language. The members of the Relief Commission were placed under great restrictions of movement and communication which hampered the efficient performance of their task. In spite of all these difficulties the Government and Commission were determined to keep the work going till the last possible moment.

Now, however, a more serious difficulty has arisen. In the course of the past 10 days several of the Commission's ships have been attacked without warning by German submarines in flagrant violation of the solemn engagements of the German Government. Protests addressed by this Government to Berlin through the intermediary of the Spanish Government have not been answered. The German Government's disregard of its written undertakings causes grave concern as to the future of the relief work. In any event it is felt that the American staff of the Commission can no longer serve with advantage in Belgium. Although a verbal promise has been made that the members of the Commission would be permitted to leave if they so desire, the German Government's observance of its other undertakings has not been such that the department would feel warranted in accepting responsibility for leaving these American citizens in German-occupied territory.

This Government has approved the proposal of the Netherlands Government to send into Belgium a certain number of Netherlands subjects to carry on the work thus far performed by the American staff.

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