Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1915, Supplement, The World War

File No. 855.48/176

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

No. 47]

Brussels, January 28, 1915.
[Received February 15.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit copies and translation of a letter from the German military authorities informing me that cattle and their food will hereafter be exempt from military requisition when imported by the Comité National de Secours et d’Alimentation.

I have [etc.]

Brand Whitlock

[Enclosure—Translation]

The Chief Administrator for the German Governor General in Belgium (Von Sandt) to the American Minister (Whitlock)

Brussels, January 13, 1915.

I have the honor to inform your excellency that the Governor General in a decision given on the 5th of this month has exempted from military requisition not only foodstuffs imported by the Comité National de Secours et d’Alimentation into Belgium from abroad for the civil population, but has extended this measure to food necessary for beasts and cattle imported by the committee.

Furthermore, as a consequence of the attached order¹ issued December 26 by the Governor General, certain classes of animals are protected against military requisition.

In this manner many of the wishes expressed by the National Committee’s agricultural section are met.

I have [etc.]

D. von Sandt

1. Not printed.