The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany ( Grew )

[Telegram]

3497. Your 4452, 10th. Mr. Gerard states that he received no assurances from the Berlin Foreign Office in regard to the exemption of laborers, other than those made verbally that no more of the civil population of Lille, Roubaix, and Tourcoing would be sent to labor in the fields.

If you deem it advisable, you may informally and orally draw to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reported action of the military authorities in Belgium and its alleged object, reminding him of the verbal assurances above mentioned as being to some extent connected with the reported situation in Belgium.

Polk