“The Spanish Minister forcibly supported all our representations and
made an earnest plea for clemency.
“Baron von der Lancken stated that the Military Governor was the
supreme authority (‘Gerichtsherr’) in matters of this sort; that
appeal from his decision could be carried only to the Emperor, the
Governor-General having no authority to intervene in such cases. He
added that under the provisions of German martial law the Military
Governor had discretionary power to accept or to refuse acceptance of
an appeal for clemency. After some discussion he agreed to call the
Military Governor on the telephone and learn whether he had already
ratified the sentence, and whether there was any chance for clemency.
He returned in about half an hour, and stated that he had been to
confer personally with the Military Governor, who said that he had
acted in the case of Miss Cavell only after mature deliberation;
that the circumstances in her case were of such a character that he
considered the infliction of the death penalty imperative; and that in
view of the circumstances of this case he must decline to accept your
plea for clemency or any representation in regard to the matter.
“Even after Baron von der Lancken’s very positive and definite
statement that there was no hope, and that under the circumstances
‘even the Emperor himself could not intervene,’ we continued to appeal
to every sentiment to secure delay, and the Spanish Minister even led
Baron von der Lancken aside in order to say very forcibly a number of
things which he would have felt hesitancy in saying in the presence of
the younger officers and of M. de Leval, a Belgian subject.
“His Excellency talked very earnestly with Baron von der Lancken
for about a quarter of an hour. During this time M. de Leval and I
presented to the younger officers every argument we could think of.
I reminded them of our untiring efforts on behalf of German subjects
at the outbreak of war and during the siege of Antwerp. I pointed out
that, while our services had been rendered gladly and without any
thought of future favors, they should certainly entitle you to some
consideration for the only request of this sort you had made since
the beginning of the war. Unfortunately, our efforts were unavailing.
We persevered until it was only too clear that there was no hope of
securing any consideration for the case.”
[Illustration:
© _Underwood & Underwood._