File No. 763.72/12087
The Swiss Chargé (
Oederlin) to the
Secretary of State
Department of German Interests
Washington,
November 2, 1918.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the
original German text of a communication from the German Government,
forwarded by cable to this Legation by the Swiss Foreign Office,
relative to air raids on German territory.
An English translation is also submitted herewith, which must not,
however, be considered authoritative.
Accept [etc.]
[Page 789]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The German Foreign
Office to the Swiss Legation at
Berlin
The German aerial forces have been under orders, since the beginning
of October of this year, only to make bomb attacks which are
directed solely against important hostile military objects, within
the immediate area of operations of war. Those orders were issued on
the assumption that the enemy aerial forces were to receive similar
instructions.
In assuming this the German people find themselves disappointed. A
short time ago the enemy made bomb attacks on the German towns of
Wetzlar, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Freiburg, Forbach
and Wiesbaden, claiming numerous victims among the civilian
population. Nor has occupied territory been spared. It is evident
that Germany can refrain from aerial attacks on enemy territory
behind the area of operations only if, on their side, the enemy,
from now on, will reciprocate and also refrain from making aerial
attacks outside the area of operations.
In the expectation that the intention, shared by the other side, to
further humanity and preserve important objects of culture will meet
with the understanding of the opponents, the German Government
proposes to the Governments of the other belligerent countries that
corresponding instructions be issued without delay to their aerial
forces, informing it of the measures taken.
