763.72115/2631a

The Secretary of State to President Wilson

My Dear Mr. President: The Belgian Minister has just left me. He came to ask what would be your attitude if the King of the Belgians should send you a request to act more formally in behalf of Belgium in the matter of the deportation of Belgian subjects to Germany. As you know, from the information which we have, it appears that these Belgians are being used to take the place of Germans in various industries in order that the Germans may be released for military service.

I told the Minister that I would submit the question to you and I hope you can give me an answer very soon so that I can communicate it to him.

Faithfully yours,

Robert Lansing