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Show GERMAN ANSWER ON DEPORTATIONS EXPECTED MONDAY BERLIN, Friday, Dec. S, via Ixnidon, Doc. y, J:l- p. m. 1 ne latest representations represen-tations by the United Stales regard Ins the Belgian labor problem were presented by Joseph C. Grew, secretary of the American embassy, in an interview with Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg on Tuesday, and the Gorman reply is expected ex-pected to bo delivered tomorrow or Monday. Mon-day. Like the chancellor's reply to Secretary G row's first representations. It was couched in the friendliest terms, going, it is understood, as far as possible toward to-ward meeting American wishes and recognizing rec-ognizing the interest the United States naturally takes in this question as the power chiefly concerned in the work of Belgian relief. As showing the spirit in which Germany Ger-many met l ho first American representations, representa-tions, the Associated Press correspondent today was informed that It was only necessary nec-essary to recapitulate the chancellor's answers to various points raised by Secretary Grew at the first interview inter-view as to details in methods of operation opera-tion under the deportation order open to criticism or objection. The first was that the measure in many respects was being applied indiscriminately to the employed as well as to the unemployed. The chancellor declared that this' was contrary to the wishes or intention of the government that only the really unemployed un-employed ould be taken: that the employed em-ployed would be left unmolested, and that whatever errors have occurred the sufferers suf-ferers from them would be .returned to Belgium. Many Returned. Representations to this end. It wns declared, de-clared, were acted upon and the deported persons invoU ed have already been returned re-turned or were returning to their homes in Belgium. It was further suggested that the measure mea-sure should not b applied to the heads of families, tut it was pointed out that it was impossible to make a general rule to this effect, as fathers of families were often the ones through whom destitution. In the absence of steady work or steady waees, whs most seriously felt, but the chancellor premised a modification of the order in eases of special hardship. The third point was thru employees of the Belgian relief committee should not be deported. This, of course, was granted, grant-ed, as they were not regarded as unemployed. un-employed. A further objection was lodged against the arrest of Belgian officials for refusing refus-ing to deliver lists of unemployed. Discontinuation Dis-continuation of this was granted, but it is now pointed out that complaints on that score were largely exaggerated, only one Belgian mayor havinc been arrested for this reason, while he already had been set at liberty. The request for permission for nentral representatives to visit deported workmen and ior postal facilities for deported men to correspond with their families was granted. In offieiil quarters Germany's position is reflected to the correspondent of the Associated, Fress as follows: Over and over again it has "been reiterated here that the United States and the neutral world in general gen-eral seem to have a distorted picture of the Belgian deportation question, basing t'.eir views on Information from enemy sources, generalizing from blunders which are admitted to have occurred, and iirnorlnc the spirit In which, as tiie chancellor's reply contends, con-tends, the German Government is determined de-termined to apply the. measure. To a certain extent at least, it Is represented! tho reasons leading the government to put the measure into effect have been misunderstood. Reference also Is maie to the military mili-tary aspects of the question. Not the least of these conditions, It is said, is the ever-present possibility of an attempt at tho landing of a military force in Belgium, In which case a dangerous menace to the German troops would be presented by the presence pres-ence in the field of operations and the immediate rear of the German defenses de-fenses of a large assemblage of able-bodied able-bodied adults who already have shown a disposition to make trouble. As is usually the case in war, military reasons prevailed. Labor Not Forced. As to the allegation that deported workmen would -be forced to labor on munitions work, it is asserted In official offi-cial quarters that there is not tiie slightest foundation therefor. As a matter of fact. Germany is mow obtaining ob-taining nil the workmen needed for this purrtosc. The protest based on the promise to the Dutch consul at Antwerp just after the surrender of the city that Belgians would not be deported is being be-ing seriously considered. While the obligation was assumed under the universal uni-versal supposition in Germany that the war would be over in a few months and that it was impossible that such conditions as exist today should arise, ttie obligation still exists and certain concessions may be made to meet this situation. |