File No. 763.72113/433
The Belgian Minister ( De Cartier) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 15.]
Sir: A British–French–Belgian conference was held in Paris on October 9, 1917, to consider measures to be taken, from now on, to protect the property and interests of the citizens or subjects of the Allies in enemy country or in territory occupied by the enemy.
The necessity of taking measures in this respect has been made imperative by the system of spoliation and destruction pursued by the German authorities against the property and interests of the Allies, notably in Belgium and in northern France.
As I have the honor to show by the attached documents (annex 2),1 since the invasion the Germans have applied themselves to ruining, more and more, Belgium and northern France by exorbitant financial exactions, by the requisition of cattle, of horses and of all the stocks of commodities and merchandise, by the carrying off and transportation to Germany of raw materials, of the machinery and tools of industrial plants, by the deportation of the workmen, by the destruction of factories, etc.
The situation has become the more alarming as, according to the latest advices from the occupied territories, the Germans are continuing to demolish all the factories, to cut down the forests, and to requisition from private individuals all sorts of objects, even down to carpets, bed-coverings, linen, clothing, shoes, etc.
It is impossible to foresee where these requisitions will end, and even whether the securities and valuables of private individuals will be safe from confiscation.
All this spoliation and destruction is carried out in accordance with a methodic plan acknowledged by the Germans, for the double purpose of increasing the resources of Germany and, at the same time, of exhausting completely the financial and economic resources of Belgium and of northern France, not only for the present but also for the future. Indeed, according to the thought of the German authorities, while the factories of Belgium and of northern [Page 275] France will have been destroyed, German industries will be able to recommence work immediately after the war on account of their machinery remaining intact and even being augmented by all the machinery carried out of Belgium and France; in this way German industries would be in a position to furnish their products to the foreign markets of Belgium and France, and, in addition, to invade the domestic markets of these two countries.
It is to be feared that nothing will be left in Belgium and northern France, unless some means can be devised to cause the Germans to cease these depredations.
Under these circumstances, the conference assembled at Paris adopted several resolutions, notably the following:
- (1)
- In each of the Allied countries organizations shall be
constituted for the purpose of collecting and studying all
useful information regarding:
- (a)
- The private property and private interests of each Allied country in enemy territory or in territory occupied by the enemy;
- (b)
- The private property and private interests of the enemy in the Allied countries.
- (2)
- Enemy property and enemy interests existing at the end of the war in Allied countries or in territory occupied by the Allied troops, shall be considered as security held in common against the totality of the Allied private property and interests which has been in the power of the enemy.
- (3)
- The Allied Governments themselves shall take, and shall recommend to the neutral states to take all necessary measures to prevent, within their territories, during the war and after the end of hostilities, the introduction and the negotiation of securities and valuables which have been, since the beginning of the war, in the power of the enemy.
- (4)
- A declaration shall be communicated to Germany which has taken special measures concerning Allied private property.
These various resolutions have been ratified by the Governments of Great Britain, France and Belgium.
In conformity with an understanding between these Governments, I have been instructed by my Government to communicate to you, Sir, the enclosed text of the final protocol1 and of the draft of the collective declaration adopted by the conference assembled at Paris (annex 1).2
I have also been instructed to ask the Government of the United States to be kind enough to give its adhesion to the resolutions and to the draft of declaration in question.
These resolutions, which are of a conservatory and preventive character, have been adopted to counteract the measures of confiscation and liquidation of Allied private property on the part of [Page 276] the enemy; they constitute a warning which may cause Germany to modify her policy of spoliation.
The Governments of France, Great Britain and Belgium are profoundly appreciative of the great sympathy shown to their nationals in the United States—a sympathy which has shown itself in so many ways, especially by the generous and efficient aid given by the American Government to relieve the suffering of the people of northern France and of Belgium. Consequently, they take the liberty of commending earnestly to the benevolent consideration of the American Government this question which is of vital interest to the commerce, industry and fortunes of their nationals now so gravely menaced by the actions of the German authorities. It is to be specially noted that Belgium, whose territory is almost entirely occupied by the Germans, has not the guarantee of holding enemy property in its power—a fact which leaves all private property in Belgium completely at the mercy of the Germans.
The aim sought by the conference could be much more easily attained if the American Government would, by its adhesion to the proposals in question, add the weight of the powerful influence which it is in a position to exercise in this highly important matter.
Please accept [etc.]