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Show IIS txr.m in Belgians Have Asked United States to Stop Deportations. Paris, Nov. 16, 5 p. m. Secretary of State Lansing's instructions to Joseph Jo-seph C. Grew, the American charge d'affaires .it Berlm, sent on behalf of ih- Belgian povernmenl, to rihcnss ! with Dr. Von P.eihraann-Hollweg, l lie ' German impM'iul 1. nan cell or, ijie question ques-tion of Ihe deportat'on by Germ my of Belgians from their native land, is regarded re-garded here as an action of great importance. im-portance. The newspapers discuss it, appreciatively. The Temps, alluding to the incident, inci-dent, says President Wilson is resolutely reso-lutely determined to hold to his principles, prin-ciples, undeterred by Mexican compll-' cations, adding that he "Intervenes I without fear of contingencies." ; The Paris Midi sees in the instruc-j instruc-j tions of Secretary Lansing the beginning begin-ning of a 'revolt of neutral nations against what it calls "the barbarous and illegal measures of the central powers." 1 "Mr. Wilson," said the Midi, "consciously "con-sciously the head of this large nation, renowned of world for its wide humanitarian hu-manitarian feelings, has taken an initiative ini-tiative which may possibly awaken all the sleeping consciences of other peoples peo-ples still indifferent." La Liberie and other newspapers comment In a similar vein. Appeal for Active Intervention Made. Washington, Nov. 16. An appeal for active intervention by the United States to stop the deportation of Belgian Bel-gian workmen into Germany was presented pres-ented to the state department today by E. Havenith, the Belgian minister. The Belgians, Mr. Havenith says, practically are being compelled to fight against their own country, con-1 trary to the laws of nations and humanity. hu-manity. The American embassy already has Interested Itself in the situation and Charge Grew, of the embassy at Berlin Ber-lin has been instructed to discuss it personally with Chancellor von Beth-mann-Hollweg. No fprmal representations representa-tions are authorized, but the charge s directed to" frolnt Oilft to the chancellor chancel-lor that Germany's course cannot but have an unfortunate effect on neutral opinion, particularly In tho United States, where great Interest is felt In the Belgians. Minister Havenith submitted the following fol-lowing communication to the state department: de-partment: "The German governor-general in' Belgium is forcing thousands of Belgian Bel-gian workmen who are unemployed or without work lo go, to Germany to work in the quarries, In manufacturing manufac-turing concrete and In the lime kilns, under pretext that they are a charge upon public charity. "The Belgian government protests energetically against this coercive measure, which is contrary to the law of nations and the laws of humanity. hu-manity. "The government of the king asks the active intervention of the government gov-ernment of the United States to obtain ob-tain the cessation of this deportation of Belgian workmen into Germany nnd 10 ODiain inc jioeraiion 01 mose who have been already deported. "Tho Germans claim that these workmen are not employed in war Industries. It should be remarked, however, that they are employed in Industries directly connected with the war and that the employmont of this Belgian labor roleases a great number num-ber of German workmen who are sent to tho front. Thus these Belgian workmen are compolled practically to fight against their own country." In making public the communication the minister issued the following statement: "The Belgian minister calls tho attention to the fact that the unemployment unem-ployment of Belgian workmen Is due entirely to the action of tho German government, which has requisitioned all the supplies of raw materials and destroyed tho Industrial plants by removing re-moving the machinery. Tho German government has absolutely paralyzed all business in Belgium; futhermore, the German government, which claims to try to encourage Belgian Industry, Indus-try, lias imposed a war tax of 40,000,-000 40,000,-000 fraucs a month (about twenty limes tne normal amount of. Belgian taxation) for the past two years, upon a country which Is without business and which Germany herself has impoverished im-poverished by war and devastation. "At the beginning of the war tho German chancellor. Von Bethmann-Hollweg, Bethmann-Hollweg, acknowledged that Germany was doing a great wrong in invading Belgium, but. in spite of this confession confes-sion of guilt, Germany is, every day, adding to her crimes against this innocent in-nocent and small nation." 00 |