American Mission,
Berlin (Germany).
Your 625, June 15, 11 a. m.
Department is in receipt of frequent protests from various organizations and individuals against conduct of French troops in occupied region, particularly alleged mistreatment of German women by French black troops. The wording of these protests suggests that they are inspired by a propaganda agency and are based on reports in German press. Department assumes that you are not in a position to definitely determine the facts in the matter but requests your opinion. Please forward by mail press clippings and other information you may be able to obtain on the subject.
Colby.
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.