HC Deb 21 November 1916 vol 87 cc1180-1
5. Mr. W. THORNE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether at least 25,000 men have been deported from various parts of Belgium to work in the Rhine province and Westphalia; if the places in question are the centre of the German coal, iron, and steel industry; if after the surrender of Antwerp the German Military Governor gave Cardinal Mercier a solemn written assurance that no Belgians would be deported; if this assurance was confirmed by Marshal Von der Goltz himself; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

Lord R. CECIL

I believe the facts stated by the hon. Member are; all correct. It may be of interest to state that the German officer under whose orders the first deportations from Flanders were carried out is General von Sauberzweig, who, in his former post as Military Governor of Brussels, was the officer directly responsible for the execution of Miss Cavell. Where atrocities of this kind are committed by such agents in pursuance of the declared policy of the German Government, mere words by His Majesty's Government can. be of no avail. We shall indeed support in every way the action of the Belgian Government, and we shall respond to every call that Government may make upon us and join our voice on their behalf to every appeal they may make to the judgment and assistance of the civilised world. But the action we chiefly intend to take—the only action which can finally solve this question—is to prosecute the War with all our power and to make it a cardinal point to secure the liberation of Belgian territory and Belgian citizens from such oppression.

Mr. THORNE

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the recent figures published which disclose the fact that at least 30,000 Belgians are being deported from Antwerp and district and at least 16,000 from Ghent and the surrounding district; and has his attention been called to a statement made by Miss Hobhouse that everything in Belgium is lovely under German domination?

Lord R. CECIL

I am afraid the facts as stated by my hon. Friend are, in substance, and, I dare say, in detail, correct As to Miss Hobhouse, I have already explained to the House the views of His Majesty's Government takes of all her statements.

Sir EDWARD CARSON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether His Majesty's Government, in cases of this kind, press the neutrals to exercise all the powers that are possible to prevent breaches of international law?

Lord R. CECIL

We have done everything we can in that direction, but we feel that the appeal comes with greatest force from the Belgium Government, and we desire to support the Belgium Government in any appeal that Government may make.

Mr. BUTCHER

Has the United States Government made any protest to the German Government against these barbarities?

Lord R. CECIL

I should like notice of that question.