[Sidenote: More German camouflage.]
"Against the unemployed in Belgium, who are a burden to public
charity, in order to avoid friction arising therefrom, compulsory
measures are to be adopted to make them work so far as they are not
voluntarily inclined to work, in accordance with the regulation
issued May 15, 1916, by the Governor General. In order to ascertain
such persons the assistance of the municipal authorities is required
for the district of the Governor General in Brussels, while in the
districts outside of the General Government, i.e., in the provinces of
Flanders, lists were demanded from the presidents of the local relief
committees containing the names of persons receiving relief. For the
sake of establishing uniform procedure the competent authorities have,
in the meantime, been instructed to make the necessary investigations
regarding such persons also in Flanders through the municipal
authorities; furthermore, presidents of local relief committees who
may be detained for having refused to furnish such lists will be
released."
Mr. Grew pointed out that the deportations were a breach of faith and
would injure the German cause abroad. In his official summary of the
negotiations which he carried on he says:
[Sidenote: Mr. Grew points out that Germany excites public opinion
against her.]
"I then discussed in detail with the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs the unfortunate impression which this decision would
make abroad, reminding him that the measures were in principle
contrary to the assurances given to the Ambassador by the Chancellor
at General Headquarters last spring and dwelling on the effect which
the policy might have on England's attitude towards relief work in
Belgium. I said I understood that the measures had been promulgated
solely by the military government in Belgium and that I thought the
matter ought at least to be brought to the Chancellor's personal
attention in the light of the consequences which the new policy would
entail. Herr Zimmermann intimated in reply that the Foreign Office had
very little influence with the military authorities and that it was
unlikely that the new policy in Belgium could be revoked. He stated,
however, in answer to my inquiry, that he would not disapprove of my
seeing the Chancellor about the matter."
[Sidenote: Mr. Grew appeals to the Chancellor]
Mr. Grew accordingly took up the whole question with the Chancellor,
and among other arguments urged the promises which the German
Government had solemnly made to the Belgian civilians through Baron
von Huene and Baron von der Goltz. [These pledges are set forth in
detail in Cardinal Mercier's letter of October 19th, 1916, quoted in
full on preceding pages.] Mr. Grew found it impossible to persuade the
Chancellor to secure the abandonment of the policy of deportations,
and thereupon urged that the policy should be modified. His formal
statement of this phase of the negotiations is as follows:
"The points of amelioration which I then suggested as a concession to
Belgian national feeling and foreign opinion were as follows:
"1. Only actual unemployed to be taken, involving a more deliberate
and careful selection.
"2. Married men or heads of families not to be taken.
"3. Employees of the Comité National not to be taken.
[Sidenote: and asks certain concessions]
"4. The lists of the unemployed not to be required of the Belgian
authorities, but to be determined by the German authorities
themselves, as a concession to Belgian national feeling, and the
Belgians, who had already been imprisoned for refusing to supply these
lists, released.
"5. Deported persons to be permitted to correspond with their families
in Belgium.
"6. Places of work or concentration camps of deported persons to be
voluntarily opened by the German Government to inspection by neutral
representatives.
* * * * *
"A few days later Count Zech, the Chancellor's adjutant, called on me
and communicated to me informally and orally the following replies to
the various suggestions which I had made for concessions and points of
amelioration:
[Sidenote: but with slight success.]
"1. Only actual unemployed were to be taken. The selections would be
made in a careful and deliberate manner.
"2. Married men or heads of families could not in principle be
exempted, but each case would be considered carefully on its merits.
"3. Employees of the _Comité National_ are regarded as actually
employed and therefore exempt.
"4. It was essential that the Belgian authorities should co-operate
with the German authorities in furnishing lists of unemployed, in
order to avoid mistakes. Only one Belgian had been imprisoned for
refusing to give such lists, and orders had now been given for his
release.
"5. Deported persons would be permitted to correspond with their
families in Belgium.
"6. Places of work and concentration camps would in principle be open
to inspection by Spanish diplomatic representatives.
"American inspection might also be informally arranged if desired.
* * * * *
"On December 2nd, the Minister at Brussels communicated to me the text
of a telegram which he had sent to the Department on November 28th,
stating that he had been encouraged by the report of the results of my
interview with the Chancellor." * * *
The telegram to which Mr. Grew refers was the following: