File No. 763.72115/2504
The Minister in Belgium (Whitlock) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 3, 5 p. m.]
12. My telegram No. 6 [9], October 18, 4 p. m. In the course of informal conversations with the German authorities by Spanish Minister and myself, following statements were made by the authorities:
Belgians taken to Germany will not be employed on works of military nature; they are taken to furnish a supply of workers in Germany and to prevent pernicious idleness in Belgium. These measures are not in contravention of international law or of the signatory governments [sic] as regards work of Commission Relief Belgium or Comité National.
I estimate there are about 350,000 male unemployed and 700,000 female unemployed in Belgium, and that about 10,000 men have so far been sent to Germany.