Sir:I have the honor to refer to a communication of this
Embassy of October 31
st , in regard to the case of Mr.
Robert Le Rossignol, a chemist by profession, who has
been released to Berlin for the purpose of resuming his
former occupation, and to inform you that a large number
of inquiries of the same nature as that made by Mr. Le
Rossignol have lately been received by prisoners at
Ruhleben. It appears that, where former employers have
asked for the services of their former employees a
policy is now prevalent on the part of the military
authorities to release the latter for the purpose of
taking up their former work. A considerable doubt
exists on the part of some of these persons as to whether
such employment is in accordance with the wishes of the
British Government. In such cases, while not wishing to
assume any responsibility, I have made a practice of
advising the men that where the work is not concerned
with the manufacture of the materials of war, it would
probably, in view of the physical and mental benefit
likely to accrue, not to be unpatriotic to accept the
employment offered …
… I shall be grateful for whatever instruction or suggestion the British Government may wish to make in
regard to the whole subject, which is now of considerable importance … [and also to ascertain whether German
civilians detained in England have been engaged voluntarily or involuntarily in outside work.]
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your obedient servant.
James W. Gerard.
Robert’s request, Gerard’s intervention, together with the fact that German
prisoners had long been invited to volunteer for work in the UK, forced the
Prisoners of War Department to make its position in the matter quite clear.
In a letter dated 26 January 1917 sent to the Secretary of the Army Council,
the Ministry of Munitions, the Home Office and the American Embassy and
the Dutch Legation in Berlin, the Prisoners of War Department established
HMG’s position once and for all, and it was a position particularly cogniscent
296
D. Sheppard
Embassy of October 31
st , in regard to the case of Mr.
Robert Le Rossignol, a chemist by profession, who has
been released to Berlin for the purpose of resuming his
former occupation, and to inform you that a large number
of inquiries of the same nature as that made by Mr. Le
Rossignol have lately been received by prisoners at
Ruhleben. It appears that, where former employers have
asked for the services of their former employees a
policy is now prevalent on the part of the military
authorities to release the latter for the purpose of
taking up their former work. A considerable doubt
exists on the part of some of these persons as to whether
such employment is in accordance with the wishes of the
British Government. In such cases, while not wishing to
assume any responsibility, I have made a practice of
advising the men that where the work is not concerned
with the manufacture of the materials of war, it would
probably, in view of the physical and mental benefit
likely to accrue, not to be unpatriotic to accept the
employment offered …
… I shall be grateful for whatever instruction or suggestion the British Government may wish to make in
regard to the whole subject, which is now of considerable importance … [and also to ascertain whether German
civilians detained in England have been engaged voluntarily or involuntarily in outside work.]
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your obedient servant.
James W. Gerard.
Robert’s request, Gerard’s intervention, together with the fact that German
prisoners had long been invited to volunteer for work in the UK, forced the
Prisoners of War Department to make its position in the matter quite clear.
In a letter dated 26 January 1917 sent to the Secretary of the Army Council,
the Ministry of Munitions, the Home Office and the American Embassy and
the Dutch Legation in Berlin, the Prisoners of War Department established
HMG’s position once and for all, and it was a position particularly cogniscent
296
D. Sheppard