763.72116/43½

Memorandum by the Counselor for the Department of State (Lansing)

Reception of Belgian Delegation

I asked Mr. Adee5 whether the President should receive the Belgian Delegation now en route to Washington to present to this Government their complaints against certain alleged atrocities of the Germans in the present European wars. Mr. Adee said that being neutrals, there was no objection to the President receiving this Commission in person, but that he should avoid receiving their representations by referring them in that respect to the Secretary of State, who was the channel of communication in matters of foreign affairs. If it seemed impossible to avoid a discussion of the matter between the Commissioners and the President, it would be best in response to their request for an appointment to the President, to say that he could only receive them personally, but as to their representations he must refer them to the Department of State.

I asked Mr. Adee if it was necessary for them to be introduced to the Secretary of State by the Belgian Minister. Mr. Adee said that if the Minister chose to accompany them, of course the Secretary of State would receive them all, but if they were duly commissioned delegates of their Government, he might receive them without [Page 34] any introduction by the Minister. If they were not duly accredited delegates, Mr. Adee thought that then they should be received by the Secretary of State only upon introduction by the Belgian Minister and with his approval of their mission.

I asked Mr. Adee if he knew of any precedents which might be followed in this case. Mr. Adee said he did not recollect any of a similar character, except possibly that of Mason and Slidell, who went as representatives of the Confederate States on a special mission to Great Britain. Mr. Adee did not recollect that any delegation from the Boer States had visited the United States.

  1. Second Assistant Secretary of State.