File No. 125.0055/5
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the
Secretary of State
No. 664]
Berlin,
March 12, 1915.
[Received March 29.]
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
telegram No. 1044, dated January 21, 4 p. m. [6 p. m.], the substance of
which was duly communicated to the Imperial Foreign Office, I have the
honor to transmit to you herewith a copy in translation of the reply of
the Foreign Office, dated March 9, 1915, on the subject of the consular
representation of the United States in Belgium.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The German Foreign Office
to the
American Embassy
No. I c.2709/30300
Note Verbale
The Foreign Office has the honor to convey its best thanks to the
Embassy of the United States of America for the statement
communicated with the esteemed note verbale
of January 25, 1915, F. O. No. 2002.
The Foreign Office gladly takes the opportunity expressly to confirm
that no objections are raised to the American consular
representatives now stationed at Antwerp and Liége. These two
officials have succeeded under the trying conditions of the present
time in establishing the most agreeable official relations with the
authorities of occupation.
[Page 921]
Mr. Watts, the Consul General at Brussels, is on
leave of absence, and it would appear that he is not to return to
his post. Should the Government of the United States propose to fill
this post again, this intention would agree with the wishes of the
Imperial Government and the military authorities in Belgium.
Although Ghent is still within the zone of military operations, and
official consular activity there would therefore appear not to be
desirable as yet, the Foreign Office would like to state at this
time that no objections on personal grounds will be raised against
Mr. Jansen [Johnson],
the Consul of the United States at that place.
