File No. 763.72116/1
The Chargé d’Affaires in Sweden (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
Stockholm, August 18, 1914.
[Received August 19, 12:15 p.m.]
[Telegram]
From German Minister here:
From German Minister here Please make by wire following communication to French Government:
Reports from the German troops show that contrary to international law a war in which the whole population is involved is being organized [Page 792] in France in numerous cases, members of the population wearing ordinary clothes have treacherously shot on German soldiers. Germany protests against such warfare incompatible with the rules of international law. The German army has been instructed to suppress in the most energetical manner any hostile attempt on the part of the population. Every person not belonging to the recognized armed forces who bears arms, who disturbs the communication in the rear of the German armies, who cuts telegraph wires, who handles explosives or who in any way takes part in the war without being entitled to do so will be immediately shot under martial law. If through these measures the war assumes a brutal character Germany declines all responsibility. France alone is responsible for the streams of blood which the war will cause.
Please communicate to the Belgian Government the following text:
The Royal Government of Belgium has refused Germany’s sincere offers which would have spared the country the terrors of war. Belgium wanted to have war as she opposed an armed resistance to the German forces who were forced to enter her territory because of the measures taken by Germany’s enemies. Although the Belgian Government has informed Germany in the note of the 8th instant according to the rules of war they will only allow troops in uniform to participate in the hostilities numerous civilians in ordinary clothes have taken part [in] the engagements around Liége. They have not only fired on German troops but they have even murdered the wounded in the most cruel manner and they have killed medical officers in the exercise of their functions. At the same time the mob in Antwerp has destroyed German property and has brutally assassinated women and children before the whole civilized world. Germany asks Belgium to account for the blood of these innocent persons and for her way of making war which defies all the rules of civilization if the entirely Belgians fault in view of protecting the German army against the fanaticism of the population every person not wearing a uniform who does not bear some clearly visible sign entitling him to participate in the war will be treated as having forfeited the privileges given by international law if he takes part in the hostilities disturbs the communications in the rear of the German armies cuts telegraph wires handles explosives or unlawfully commits any other hostile act he will be treated as a franc tireur and consequence he will immediately be shot under martial law [sic].
Please wire via American Legation, Stockholm, date when above communication has reached French and Belgian Governments.
Caffery