701.6311/146½
The Secretary of State to
President Wilson
Washington,
September 7, 1915.
My Dear Mr. President: Ambassador Dumba has
just left. We went over quite thoroughly the situation created by his
letter to the Foreign Office.9 In substance his defense is set
forth in a memorandum which he left with me and which I enclose to you.
I do not think that I can add anything of value to it, though he did
elaborate to an extent in conversation.
I also called his attention to the employment of Archibald as a
messenger, and pointed out to him the impropriety of a diplomatic
representative in this country using one of its citizens, who carried an
American passport and was entitled to protection by this Government, as
a bearer of official dispatches which were to pass through enemy
territory. He seemed surprised at this complaint; said that he had never
thought of it; that he had never used an American citizen before, and
never should again for such a purpose. He also said that it should be
realized that conditions of communication with his Government were very
difficult and that they took any practical means to send their official
dispatches. I told him that I would like
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to have him think the matter over and if he desired
to furnish a memorandum on the subject.
I further gave him the decided impression that you were much concerned, I
think I might say irritated, over what had occurred and that I would
report the substance of our interview to you and that he would hear from
me in a few days.
He is evidently very much distressed because of what has occurred, but I
do not think he really repents of his action; he only deplores the fact
that he was found out.
Faithfully yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador
(Dumba)
In consequence of the production on a gigantic scale of war supplies
for the Allies the Austrian and Hungarian citizens, working in the
industrial plants which have filled contracts with the Allies, are
in an extremely difficult position.—The Hungarian and Austrian penal
laws submit all Austrians and Hungarians working in neutral
countries in factories producing warmaterial for enemies to heavy
penalties. A warning issued by the two Governments in Vienna and
Budapest announced that such citizens, after their return to their
country, may be punished with imprisonment of ten to twenty years,
and even by capital punishment under certain aggravating
circumstances which would qualify their acts as high treason.
I had called the attention of my Government to the great difficulty
of exacting an immediate and complete compliance with the above
cited laws from the many thousands of our citizens occupied in
factories now producing warsupplies for the Allies. I especially
mentioned months ago, that for instance in Bridgeport a certain
number of Hungarians had of their own and free will, prompted by
pure patriotic motives left such factories; but that they had been
unable to find work elsewhere and therefore reluctantly compelled to
return to their former occupation. But as the great majority of
these workmen and especially of the Hungarian citizens are anxious
to return to their country after the war, it is incumbent upon me to
warn them of the danger which they would incur, if they continued to
remain in plants working exclusively for the Allies.
I might have done this by official notification through the
respective Il. and Rl. Consulates. Legal advisors pronounced
themselves against this method, as the Consuls might lay themselves
open to actions for damages for incitement to breaking contracts.
The only way remaining would therefore be the exhortation of our
citizens by their national papers, to leave the plants unless they
preferred to
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stay
permanently in the United States and gave up every thought of seeing
again their country of origin. At the same time it was clear that
the gradual exit of our workmen by small numbers would only deprive
them of their bread without in the least interfering with the
production of warsupplies, whereas this object would have been more
probably attained by their leaving all in great number at the same
time.
My attention was also called to the inhuman labour conditions
prevailing in different plants and especially in Bethlehem where our
unskilled workmen are supposed to work 12 hours a day and seven days
a week. I thought therefore that this would be a good opportunity to
protect my countrymen, many of whom are analphabets and utterly
helpless against this unscrupulous sweating system by organizing
these white slaves in unions which would soon obtain for them a
shorter working day and altogether better conditions of work. The
plants have every motif to grant now concessions, and once such
concessions made, they would benefit our unskilled labourers in a
permanent way after the war.
To achieve these ends it would be necessary to subsidise different
national papers, which suffer already now through bad labour
conditions and to the subsequent nonpayment of subscriptions.
Besides certain expenses would be caused by the intended
organization of unions and the foundation of an employment Bureau to
find work for our countrymen who were to leave their present work,
would also necessitate considerable expense. It is for this purpose
that I asked Baron Burian for a credit of $15,000.
I should be very thankful if my endeavours to procure work for my
countrymen in factories producing no warsupplies could be supported
by the Federal Government, especially the Secretary of Labour. This
cooperation could save no end of misery to my countrymen and prevent
trouble and unrest in the labour conditions of this country.
Lenox, Mass.
,
September 6, 1915.
