"Thousands of workmen in the occupied territory have been compelled
to forced labor; we earnestly ask the government to restore to these
workmen their liberty, especially in Belgium. In truth, we [the
Germans] find no sympathy in neutral countries; even the Pope has made
a protest against this procedure, and several neutral states have done
the same. Common sense itself demands that we abandon this procedure
which moreover is in opposition to the Hague Convention to which we
have agreed."
"In opposition to the Secretary of State, I must recall that when
formerly the Belgian workmen who had fled to Holland returned to
Belgium, Governor General von Bissing promised that these Belgian
workmen would under no circumstances be deported to Germany. This
reassuring promise has not been kept."
Ambassador Gerard's interesting testimony appears in his recent book: