A translation of this communication is likewise enclosed.
[Enclosure—Translation]
A Communication From the German
Government to the Government of the
United States
According to information received in Berlin from the Postmaster
General at Karlsruhe, Strassburg and Frankfurt, the Allied
Governments [Page 37] have taken
measures, whereby, since November 21, all communications by mail,
telegraph and telephone between Alsace-Lorraine and the other parts
of Germany are completely interrupted. These measures inflict great
hardships on the population concerned.
The Postmaster General at Karlsruhe, for instance, reports that there
are thousands of parcels, destined for the Alsace, at the
Parcel-post Transfer Office at Mannheim and at the Post Office
Karlsruhe 2. In Karlsruhe more than 200 registered and insured
parcels from Switzerland for the Alsace are held up. The parcels
contain mostly foodstuffs.
Furthermore, since November 21, noon, all [passenger] traffic has
been stopped between Alsace-Lorraine and the other parts of Germany.
This measure seriously affects the manifold economic relations,
especially a great number of workmen and employes.
The German Government begs to draw the attention of the United States
and Allied Governments to the unjustified harshness of these
measures, which are not in line with the terms of the armistice. In
the name of the population of Alsace-Lorraine and of the other parts
of Germany it begs to solicit an early modification mitigating the
aforementioned conditions.
Solf
Secretary of State in the Foreign Office
