Translation: Legation of Switzerland

Title

Translation: Legation of Switzerland

Creator

Sulzer, Hans

Identifier

WWP25538

Date

1918 November 19

Description

Translation of messaged from the German High Command.

Source

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers

Publisher

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum

Subject

World War, 1914-1918--Armistices

Contributor

Mark Edwin Peterson

Relation

WWP25537

Language

English

Provenance

Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.

Text

WASHINGTON, DC

DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN INTERESTS

SIR:

I am instructed by my Government to transmit to your Excellency, upon the request of the German Government, the following communication:

"The following telegrams have been exchanged between Marshal Foch and the German Army High Command:
'The French Army High Command to the German Army High Command, 14/11, 18 4:15 PM. From the information which has reached the high command of the allied forces, it appears that at various places, particularly in Belgium, and especially in the country lying around Brussels, the German troops have committed violences against the people, destruction and plundering, -- all acts which are entirely contrary to the terms of the armistices. The High Command of the Allied Armies relies upon the High Command of the German Army to take without delay all measures tending to prevent a violation of the contents of the signed agreement. If those proceedings do not stop in a very short time the high command of the Allied forces will find itself under the obligation to issue orders with a view to bring these to an end.

(signed) FOCH'

'To Marshal Foch:

The German plenipotentiaries during the negotiations have always insisted in writing and orally in the most emphatic manner that the carrying out of the unheard-of and technically unfeasible terms will be attended with unavoidable transgressions. The blame for these transgressions lies now and in future exclusively on the High Command of the Allies. The German High Command protests against the reproaches wrongfully made and again insists that the contents of the message heretofore adopted by the Allied High Command render impossible their measures for the protection of their own as well as the enemy people, and also the protection and care of their own troops. It again mentions that the armistice yearned for by all peoples is carried out in a spirit that does not exclude the observance of humaneness towards friend and foe. As to the fact itself, the German High Command wishes to remark that according to the information that it has gathered it is mostly a case of the populace committing excesses against the well-to-do classes and also against the German soldiers.

German High Command of the Army'

The German Government begs leave to bring the foregoing to the knowledge of the President of the United States, and begs him to intervene towards giving a hearing to the dictates of humaneness.

(signed) SOLF."

Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

HANS SULZER

Minister of Switzerland.

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WWI1454A.pdf

Collection

Tags

Citation

Sulzer, Hans, “Translation: Legation of Switzerland,” 1918 November 19, WWP25538, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.