File No. 763.72116/63

The Minister in Belgium ( Whitlock ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

The German authorities in Brussels have indicated a willingness to spare the historic monuments at Antwerp in the event of a bombardment of that city provided the Belgians will agree not to use those monuments for military purposes. I have been asked in conjunction with my Spanish colleague to arrange for such an understanding with the Belgian Government at Antwerp. In view of Department’s August 27, 7 p.m.,1 I have felt that I could not undertake to transmit this message from the German to the Belgian authorities otherwise than through the Department of State. If the Department is of the opinion that action should be taken in this matter, instruction to that effect can be sent direct to Gibson who is now in Antwerp.2

Whitlock
  1. Ante, p. 742.
  2. The first two sentences transmitted to Gibson October 2 for communication to the Belgian Government.