From the Imperial German Legation to Jonkheer J. Loudon, Minister for [Foreign] Affairs
Your Excellency: It is to be foreseen that the war and its destruction will soon cause the keenest suffering amongst the inhabitants of the southern part [Page 818] of Belgium. Though deploring this possibility the chief German Army authorities will under the present circumstances be unable to render assistance.
The Imperial Government recognises that from a humane point of view it is its duty to do everything in its power to prevent this threatening misery. It therefore invites the Dutch Government to take the measures which shall seem necessary to it, in order to collect on the Meuse foodstuffs to feed the Belgian population. The German Army authorities on their part are prepared to furnish the railway transport as soon as they think such is available.
Bringing the above to the knowledge of your excellency, I avail myself [etc.]