Appendix IX.
No. 464.
July 16, 1920.
The Secretary of State,
Washington.
Sir: Adverting to my dispatch No. 442, of July 5, and to my telegrams Nos. 806 and 807, of July 12, and No. 812, of July 15, I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation of a newspaper account of the so-called American protest meeting against the use by France of colored troops in the occupied Rhineland area, held in Berlin on the evening of July 14. I beg likewise to inclose a copy of the issue of the European Press (formerly the Continental Times) dated July 9, which contains an article by Rutledge Rutherford announcing the meeting in question. This article states that the American speakers were to be Col. Edwin Emerson, Miss Ray Beveridge, Hermann George Scheffauer, Edith Talbot Scheffauer, Lora Vincent, John De Kay, Rutledge Rutherford, and Agatha M. Bullitt. The three last-named persons did not actually appear, however, although messages were read from Messrs. De Kay and Rutherford. Other than these Americans, the only speaker was a German woman from the Rhineland; but messages were read from E. D. Morel, Henri Barbusse, Jean Longuet, and others.
A member of the commission who attended the meeting informs me that the large auditorium of the university was crowded long before the meeting opened, and that the audience, composed largely of women, was most enthusiastic. The newspaper account does not, however, give an accurate impression of the tone adopted by the speakers, inasmuch as mention of the bitterly anti-French and anti-American character of the addresses is apparently omitted, whereas it was expression of these sentiments which created the greatest applause. In fact, the meeting took on more the character of a violent chauvinistic gathering than a protest against the black troops. Miss Beveridge and Mr. Scheffauer were particularly vehement in their attacks on President Wilson and the United States Government and devoted most of their time to assailing America for her entrance into the war, while Col. Emerson directed his thrusts chiefly at France. It is interesting to note that Miss Beveridge, who has now spoken more than once on this subject, is invariably introduced as one who has done much for German children by aiding the work of the American Quakers in Germany. The head of the Quaker mission in Berlin informs me, however, that Miss Beveridge has not now and has never had any connection with their activities, in spite of her repeated efforts to become associated with them, and that her persistence and such misstatements as that referred to above have caused them great embarrassment.
During the course of the meeting, letters were read from Mrs. Bayard Taylor and Prof. Thomas C. Hall, but I am inclined to believe that the writers were not acquainted with the circumstances under which the meeting was held.
(Signed)Ellis Loring Dresel,
American Commissioner.
January 31, 1921.
Hon. Stephen G. Porter,
House of Representatives.
Sir: Referring to my letter of January 17, 1921, concerning the propaganda being carried on as to the conduct of the French black troops in the occupied territory of Germany, I have the honor to inclose for your information a paraphrase of a telegram received from the American ambassador in Paris giving the official statement as to the number and origin of the French troops of occupation at the present time.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
Bainbridge Colby.
[Telegram from American Ambassador at Paris, Jan. 29, 1921.]
The total number of troops in the French Army of occupation was 86,000 in December; 16,386 of this number were Moroccans and Algerians and 3,224 were Malgaches. The remainder were white. The figures for January are approximately the same.
Properly speaking, there are no black troops. The Moroccans and Algerians are Arabs of the Mussulman religion and are entirely distinct from the Negro race. The Malagaches are Malays from Madagascar.
Incidents occurring between these colored troops and the natives of the occupied district, and which have been investigated by French military authorities, have been in the proportion of 1 to 1,594 men. About one-fourth of such cases have resulted in condemnations of from 30 days to 10 years’ imprisonment, according to the gravity of the charge. The remaining cases have been dismissed on account of inability to substantiate charges or because of a lack of good faith on the part of German authorities who brought charges.
The French Government has made no attempt to officially disprove the accusations concerning the behavior of the troops. It has, however, unofficially supplied facts and figures through its press agencies to various countries. So far as I am able to ascertain, the recent behavior of these troops has been on an average with the conditions above reported.
The delay on the part of the foreign office in supplying this information after several requests was not due to lack of interest, but to difficulty in obtaining figures. That office has promised further information within a few days, which I shall forward as soon as it is received.
Wallace.
February 11, 1921.
Hon. Stephen G. Porter,
House of Representatives.
Sir: Again reverting to my letter of January 17, 1921, in regard to the House joint resolution No. 433, concerning French colored troops in occupied Germany, I beg to refer to Appendix X of that letter, which was a photostat copy of a leaflet entitled “The Black Evil,” and bearing the American flag at the top. This matter was brought to the attention of the American commissioner in Berlin, with instructions to make inquiries in regard to its origin.
I am now in receipt of a telegram from Mr. Dresel stating that the minister for foreign affairs, Mr. Simons, assures him “emphatically that the foreign office has had nothing to do with this propaganda, of which he utterly disapproves as injurious to Germany.” Mr. Simons further stated that if he could discover who was financially responsible for this leaflet he would insist on these activities being stopped.
I beg to send this information to you as pertinent to the subject of joint resolution No. 433, which is being examined by your committee.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
Norman H. Davis.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
No Appendix VIII appears in the original.
The cover image for this eBook was created by the Transcriber from the title page of the original and is entered into the public domain.