File No. 125.0055/2
The Secretary of State to the Belgian Minister ( Havenith )
Sir: I have received your note, No. 3465, of December 28, 1914, in which you refer to the notification of the neutral powers by the German Government of its intention to cancel the exequaturs granted by your Government to foreign consuls and to create but three consular posts, namely, Brussels, Liége, and Antwerp, only granting temporary recognition to the consular officers stationed at those places.
You state that your Government has entered a protest at Berlin under Article 42 of the fourth convention of The Hague, to the effect that military occupation only confers upon the occupant de facto possession, which does not carry with it the right to cancel exequaturs.
Accept [etc.]