Jean-Jules Jusserand to Woodrow Wilson

My Government cables me that the method and extent of the devastations effected by the Germans in the course of their present retreat and the premeditated barbarity with which they have concealed, in the villages abandoned by them, machines and bombs with time fuses, are deeply impressing French opinion, accustomed though it has long been to germanisms of various kinds.

My Government has entrusted the competent commission with the care of collecting, as rapidly as possible, the testimony of prisoners and soldiers who have been the witnesses of those nefarious deeds. Such sworn statements will be made public, as had been done previously. But, as publicity and the condemnation of those acts by public opinion throughout the world have had no effect, and new devices are, on the contrary, put in practice by the enemy in order to cause unjustifiable pain and suffering, my Government wonders whether it might not be of use to have recourse to a solemn declaration by the Allies forecasting the punishment for all acts which are crimes in the eyes of common law, and due reparation for the same. This declaration would be couched in very general terms, no allusion being made to any particular retaliatory measures.

My Government would, I know, greatly liked to be informed of the views about the matter, of one whose judgment on questions of international ethics carries such weight. I should be much obliged to you if you were so good as to enable me to inform them of your personal opinion./. I have the honor to be, dear Mr. President,