Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Page, United States Ambassador in London. SIR E. GREY presents his compliments to the United States Ambassador, and, with reference to his note of the 24th instant, has the honour to inform His Excellency that arrangements have been made for the departure to-day of the twelve German consular officials detained in this country, who will travel by way of Tilbury and Flushing. The names of these persons were communicated to Mr. Page in the above-mentioned note under Nos. 1 to 12. Instructions have been sent by telegram to the Governor of Gibraltar requesting that the repatriation of Messrs. Eisenlohr and Heym, the other two officials, may be carried out as soon as a convenient opportunity arises. It is hoped that it will have been found possible to arrange that they should leave by to-day, but this cannot be guaranteed, as their departure would naturally depend on whether a steamer for a convenient neutral port was leaving Gibraltar on that date. The above facts have already been brought unofficially to his Excellency's notice, with a request that the United States Ambassador at Berlin might be informed by telegraph, and Sir E. Grey will be glad to receive information that the corresponding British officials have left Germany. Having regard to any future exchanges, either of incapacitated prisoners of war, officials, or other categories of persons, Sir E. Grey would be grateful if the United States Ambassador at Berlin could explain to the German Government the desirability of giving longer notice of the date on which it is proposed that any particular exchange should take place. Foreign Office, February 28, 1915. Mr. Page, United States Ambassador in London, to Sir Edward Grey. (Received March 5.) THE American Ambassador presents his compliments to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to quote the following telegram which he has just received from the Ambassador at Berlin, regarding the departure of the fourteen British officials whose exchange for an equal number of German officials was agreed upon: Arrangements were completed on 28th February for per mitting fourteen British subjects agreed upon to leave Germany, but permission was withheld as your telegram not received until to-day. German Government will make instant arrangements to facilitate departure earliest possible opportunity. Letter follows in to-day's pouch." American Embassy, London. Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Page, United States Ambassador in London. THE Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the United States Ambassador and, with reference to his note of the 24th ultimo respecting the exchange of British and German consular officers, has the honour to inform his Excellency that he learns from the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the German official Krüger, whose name was included in the German list, left Malta for Germany on the 25th ultimo, and further that the official Lerch, at his own special request, is sailing on the Dutch steamer Princess Juliana, leaving Singapore on the 20th instant en route for Germany. In Mr. Gerard's note of the 15th February last it is stated that, as soon as the other German consular officers, namely, numbers 15 to 26, are brought to England the German Government will allow an equivalent number of British subjects. in Germany, to be chosen by his Excellency, to leave Germany. In view of the fact that Messrs. Krüger and Lerch are apparently sailing direct for Germany without coming to England, Sir E. Grey has the honour to request that two British subjects may now be released from Germany in exchange, and that Mr. Gerard may find it possible to select Colonel Stratton and Admiral Chilcott. Sir E. Grey presumes that the fourteen British subjects mentioned in his note of the 25th February have already left Germany in exchange for the fourteen German officials who left this country on the 1st instant as was agreed upon, but so far no information on the subject has been received by His Majesty's Government.. Sir E. Grey has further the honour to request that he may receive an early reply to this note. Foreign Office, March 5, 1915. Mr. Page, United States Ambassador in London, to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received March 19.) THE American Ambassador presents his compliments to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit herewith enclosed a copy of a letter he has received from the Embassy at Berlin, dated the 11th March, referring to Sir Edward Grey's note of the 5th instant relative to the exchange of British and German consular officials. Enclosure. Mr. Gerard to Mr. Page. American Embassy, Berlin, March 11, 1915. MY DEAR COLLeague, I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of 6th March, informing me that Herr Krüger and Herr Lerch, German consular officials, were being permitted to proceed to Germany direct, and asking for this reason that two British subjects be permitted to leave Germany at once. In accordance with the desire of His Majesty's Government, the Imperial Foreign Office has been requested to permit Admiral Chilcott and Colonel Stratton to leave Germany, but I am told that it is unlikely that such permission will be granted, as Herren Krüger and Lerch are only consular clerks, while Admiral Chilcott and Colonel Stratton are persons of impor tance. Still, no definite reply has yet been received, as the matter is in the hands of the military authorities, but I think that you should be informed that even if it be possible to arrange the exchange of Admiral Chilcott and Colonel Stratton, it is most unlikely that, when other German consular officials are ready to be exchanged, it will be possible to effect the exchange of Colonel Hemans and other invalids for them. Since the early days of the war I have been exceedingly anxious to secure the release or exchange of Colonel Hemans and the other invalids. Up to the present time no reply has been received from the Imperial Foreign Office to the British Government's latest note concerning them, but I do not believe the German Government will consider individual cases any more than they will consider a general exchange of all those persons who are medically unfit for military service until His Majesty's Government will release all persons above the age of 45 and not 55, as the matter stands at present. I am informed that a reply will be sent to the Embassy in the next few days regarding the British Government's proposition concerning an exchange of invalid civilians (Sir E. Grey's note of the 12th February, 1915),* and that the answer will be that the German Government will not agree to the proposition until the age limit of 45 is recognised by England. I fear that nothing will be accomplished towards a general exchange of invalid civilians, and I need not point out to you how necessary and urgent such an exchange is from a humanitarian point of view, until His Majesty's Government alter their decision in regard to the 45 and 55 year question. I think further negotiation must be from your side, and I earnestly *See page 630. hope and trust you will be able to obtain some concession from His Majesty's Government in this matter, as I know quite certainly that the German Government will listen to no propositions regarding a general exchange until the age limit of 15 years, not 55, is definitely agreed to. I am, etc., JAMES W. GERARD. Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Page, United States Ambassador in London. THE Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the United States Ambassador, and with reference to his Excellency's note of the 18th instant respecting the exchange of British and German consular officers, has the honour to request his Excellency to be so good as to convey to Mr. Gerard Sir E. Grey's thanks for having asked for the release of Admiral Chilcott and Colonel Stratton in exchange for the German officials Krüger and Lerch, which action is in accordance with the arrangement by which the selection of British subjects to make up the number of persons to be exchanged against the German consular officials was to be left to Mr. Gerard. This arrangement Mr. Gerard followed when on his own initiative he obtained the release of Colonels Ward and de la Fontaine. Foreign Office, March 20, 1915. CORRESPONDENCE with the United States Ambassador in London respecting Negotiations with the German Government for the mutual Release of incapacitated Military and Naval Prisoners of War and Civilians.-September, 1914-April, 1915.* * Sir A. Johnstone, His Majesty's Minister at The Hague, to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 8.) (Telegraphic.) The Hague, September 8, 1914. VERY urgent appeal received through United States Minister here from United States consul at Frankfort for His Majesty's Government to endeavour to secure return of Nauheim invalids through Holland if possible. United States Ambassador in Berlin has list. Could appeal be made through Mr. Page and Mr. Gerard to German Government? * From Parliamentary Paper, "Miscellaneous, No. 8 (1915)." Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Page, United States Ambassador in London. YOUR EXCELLENCY, Foreign Office, September 11, 1914. I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your Excellency's information, a copy of a telegram received from His Majesty's Minister at The Hague, relative to the condition of invalid British subjects now at Bad Nauheim. His Majesty's Minister at Berne has informed me that the United States consul-general at Frankfort-on-the-Main has been acquainted by the general officer commanding in that city that these invalids will be granted permits to proceed to England viâ Hanover and Holland. In view of the very grave results which detention in an enemy country in the present circumstances might have for persons known to be in poor health, and many of whom are seriously ill, I should be greatly indebted to your Excellency if you could cause a special appeal to be made to the proper German authorities to secure the early departure and safe transit of these unfortunate persons. I have, &c., Mr. Acland, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to Mr. Chandler Anderson, of the United States Embassy in London. Foreign Office, September 29, 1914. DEAR MR. CHANDLER ANDERSON, FROM reports we have received from British subjects returning from Frankfort, we are, as you know, getting rather concerned about the condition of the invalids still remaining at Bad Nauheim. We are informed that, in spite of the efforts of Mr. Gerard and of the United States consul at Frankfort, no British subject, either man or woman, has been allowed to leave Nauheim for England until a few days ago. The United States consul actually went up to Berlin on 21st September to see Mr. Gerard on the subject, but nothing was heard of his further efforts until 26th September, when, shortly before the train left Frankfort with the British subjects (women) who were permitted to leave there for England, the commandant of the Frankfort district told one of our Nauheim people that, unless English restrictions upon Germans in England were relaxed, Englishmen in Germany, including Nauheim patients, would be put into concentration camps or fortresses. The commandant said that German patience with regard to the treatment of |