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Show 1 Germans Must Not De- 1 1 stroy Belgian Coal ;; Mines. II Solemn Assurances of if German Government I Must Not Be Broken, Hf WASHINGTON. Nov. 7. Secretary jj- Lansing mnde public today a message r to the German government, through the Swiss minister protesting against S the reported intention of the German ,h authorities in Belgium to destroy coal H'l mines upon evacuation. If the acts M contemplated are carried out. the fl M message says, it will confirm "the bo- 'J lief that the solemn assurances of the B: German government, arc not given in 1 good faith." M The note addressed to the Swiss B' minister, follows: Hl "I have the honor to request that H ou will bring the following to the in- HiJ tention of the German government: I a "In its note of October 20th the Ger- J BJ man government announced 'that the Bl-i German lroo)s are under strictest in-structions in-structions to spare private property Hp! Rud to exercise care for the population l to the best of their ability.' Bf'j "Information has now reached the J government of the United States to i the effect that the German authorities H, in Belgium have given notice to the K j coal mining companies that all men H and animals should be brought out of HS the pits; that all raw materials in the Kp possession of the companies should be destroyed to the Germans and that the Hra mines would be destroyed at once. Huj, Acts so wanton and malicious involv- Hj ing as they do ihe destruction of a Hh ital necessity to the civilian popula- j Hon of Belgium and the consequence suffering and loss of human life which1 1 will follow, cannot fail to impress the government and the people of the Hi United States as wilfully cruel and in- Hl human. If theso acts, in flagrant aIo- HJt lation of the declaration of October 20 Hfi are perpetrated, it will confirm the Hjj) belief that the solemn assurances of Hjjl the German government are not given in good faith. In the circumstances the ! government of the United States to which the declaration of October 20 HN was made, enters an emphatic pro-test pro-test against the measures contemplat- Hn ?d by the German authorities for J whose conduct the government or Hl Germany is wholly responsible." |