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66TH CONGRESS } SENATE { DOCUMENT _3d Session_ } { No. 397

COLORED TROOPS IN THE FRENCH ARMY

A REPORT

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE RELATING TO THE COLORED TROOPS IN THE FRENCH ARMY AND THE NUMBER OF FRENCH COLONIAL TROOPS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORY

PRESENTED BY MR. LODGE FEBRUARY 15 (calendar day, February 14), 1921.--Ordered to be printed

WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1921

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, _Washington, February 14, 1921_.

Hon. HENRY CABOT LODGE, _United States Senate_.

SIR: In response to an informal request made by your secretary of Mr. Bliss, of this department, on February 12, 1921, I have the honor to inclose for your consideration and that of your committee a copy of a letter, with its inclosures which I wrote to Mr. Porter, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House, on the subject of French black troops on the Rhine; also a copy of a later letter to Mr. Porter, with its inclosure, a copy of a telegram from Mr. Wallace, giving the latest figures as to the number of French colonial troops now in the occupied territory.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

NORMAN H. DAVIS, _Acting Secretary_.

COLORED TROOPS IN THE FRENCH ARMY.

JANUARY 17, 1921.

Hon. STEPHEN G. PORTER, _House of Representatives_.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of January 10, 1921, with which you inclose a copy of House joint resolution No. 433, introduced by Mr. Britten, and request that I furnish the Committee on Foreign Affairs with such facts concerning the conduct of French colored troops in the occupied territories of Germany as may be in the possession of the Department of State.

Protests concerning the conduct of French black troops in the Rhenish area began to reach the department toward the end of May, 1920. On June 12, 1920, a telegram was sent to the American embassy in Paris requesting information as to the truth of these allegations and asking what representations might be made to the French Government, if the reports appeared to have a basis of fact. (Appendix I). On June 25, 1920, Mr. Wallace telegraphed that an investigation had been promptly started and that he would arrange with Gen. Allen, in command of the American troops at Coblentz, to secure all possible facts. In a further telegram of this same date Mr. Wallace gave a short summary of the number of colonial troops employed by the French in the occupied territories, reported what Mr. Dresel, American commissioner in Berlin, had told him of the agitation in Germany, and suggested that he speak informally of the matter to M. Millerand. (Appendix II.) The Department of State authorized Mr. Wallace to speak to M. Millerand on the subject, and he reported on July 22 that this had been done. (Appendix II.)

In the meantime, on June 22, the department telegraphed Gen. Allen for such information as he might be able to furnish. This telegram was answered shortly on June 26, giving the number and origin of French colonial troops in the occupied region and an official report of the number of complaints made to the French during the period of occupation and the disposition made of these complaints. (Appendix IV.) On July 2 Gen. Allen submitted a full and detailed report on the matter (Appendix V), in which he pointed out that the allegations of wholesale atrocities were false and intended for political propaganda, that there had been cases of serious misbehavior which had been punished by the French military authorities, that the number of convictions indicated an earnest effort on the part of the French authorities to deal justly with the accusations, and that the discipline of the Senegalese troops had not always been good. I especially commend this report to your attention as a clear and impartial statement of the case. That the French are attempting to maintain good relations with the people of the territory occupied by their armies is made evident in a telegram from Gen. Allen of August 19, in which he cites a French order instructing that “all members of the Army must be dignified, courteous, and just, thus setting the example to the German population of tolerance in order that good will and mutual respect may be established and promoted and ill will and hatred overcome.” (Appendix VI.)

The department also consulted in this matter the American commissioner in Berlin, stating on June 15, 1920, that it was receiving many protests against the alleged misconduct of French black troops and that the phrasing of the protests suggested possible inspiration from a propaganda bureau. (Appendix VII.) Mr. Dresel replied that protests in Germany were general, emanating from all classes and political parties, that an extensive press propaganda had been carried on and that a mass meeting of protest was soon to be held in Berlin at which certain Americans were to speak. Mr. Dresel inclosed a memorandum on this subject. You will note in this memorandum which includes translations from the German press and a summary of the discussion in the Reichstag, various examples of gross exaggeration of facts, as, for example, the statement of the German foreign minister that France had transplanted “50,000 black and colored troops to the heart of white Europe,” whereas Gen. Allen stated that the number of such troops, including regiments of Arabs, was in the vicinity of 20,000. May I call your particular attention in this memorandum also to the translation of the French answer to the German protests? I understand that there has been no official interchange of notes between the French and German Governments.

Mr. Dresel forwarded to the department also the original German edition of the pamphlet, “Colored Frenchmen on the Rhine,” the American edition of which, published by the New Times of Chicago, appears to be a literal translation with the addition of the words, “An appeal of white women to American womanhood.” It is perhaps worth noting that this pamphlet was published not in the Rhineland, but in Berlin, and that the avoidance of names makes it impossible to verify or disprove the specific allegations. Furthermore as Mr. Dresel has pointed out to the department, practically all the alleged instances of misconduct by the French black troops cited in the German press give no reference to date or place and are therefore of little value as evidence.

On July 15 the American commissioner in Berlin sent to the department a translation of an account of the so-called American protest meeting against the use by France of colored troops in the Rhineland area, which was held in Berlin on the evening of July 4. In his covering dispatch Mr. Dresel pointed out that the addresses were bitterly anti-American as well as anti-French and that Miss Ray Beveridge and Mr. Scheffauer, both American citizens, were particularly vehement in their attacks on the American Government. I have thought it worth while to inclose this dispatch, with the accompanying translation, to call your attention to the competence of the witnesses on whose allegations this propaganda appears in large measure to be based.

Miss Ray Beveridge was formerly employed by the German embassy in Washington and was the organizer of “embargo conference” meetings in 1915. She states that she held a public meeting in the Reichstag Building to protest against the signing of the peace treaty. She refers to the former Emperor of Germany as “my Kaiser.” Mr. Edwin Emerson, formerly a newspaper man in Berlin connected with the antially Continental Times, has been living in Germany since 1917. During and since the war he has been carrying on antiallied propaganda work in Germany. John W. DeKay was identified with the Huerta dictatorship and attempted to import into Mexico rifles and ammunition, which were intercepted by the United States at Vera Cruz. He was indicted on nine counts in New York in 1913 for obtaining money on false pretenses and is a fugitive from justice in the Atlantic National Bank case. He is said to be the treasurer of the bolshevist party in Switzerland. He carried a Mexican passport in December, 1920, and was at one time granted a German passport by the German legation in Berne. Mr. H. G. Scheffauer, born in San Francisco in 1878, has lived in Germany since 1913. As coeditor of the Continental Times he contributed anti-American articles under assumed names. On January 6, 1919, he was indicted for treason--for writing, publishing, and distributing articles and propaganda in aid of the German cause. These people call themselves Americans, and as far as the department knows are the authors of most of the stories distributed in this country concerning the misconduct of the French black troops. It is necessary to speak of the Englishman, E. D. Morel, only because he is specifically mentioned in House joint resolution No. 433. Mr. Morel was, before the war, strongly anti-French and anti-Belgian. During the Moroccan crisis he upheld Germany and during the war was indicted under the defense of the realm act for sending uncensored letters to Switzerland. His articles on the “Black Terror” were published in the London Daily Herald, an extremely radical paper alleged to be subsidized by the Russian soviet government.

Finally, it should be called to the attention of your committee that these accusations against the French troops are also reaching America direct from Germany. As evidence of this there are inclosed photostat copies of two printed appeals sent in the mail from Germany to American citizens and by them forwarded to the department. The leaflet entitled “The Black Evil” reached America inclosed in a German magazine. You will note that there is no printer’s mark and that the American flag at the top is evidently intended to indicate that it was printed in America. Several of these leaflets have reached the department and copies have been sent to the Postmaster General for such action as he may see fit to take. The second leaflet, entitled “An Appeal to Americans,” contains the accusation against the French colored troops only as a further argument for American assistance.

As soon as the department received word of the introduction of House joint resolution No. 433 I telegraphed to Mr. Wallace for information as to the present personnel of the French troops of occupation. When his answer is received I shall be pleased to forward it to you. May I, however, call your attention to the fact that no recent allegations of misconduct of French soldiers have been made so far as the department is informed, all those detailed in the various published statements referring to a time prior to June 1, 1920.

In consideration of what I have said above, the facts that, although there were undoubtedly outrages, those proved guilty have been punished; that official American testimony as well as that given by many reputable Germans largely disproves the specific but unverifiable charges made by witnesses whose impartiality is certainly questionable; that the accusations appear to be a method of anti-French propaganda; that the French have long since withdrawn the Senegalese troops which were the only pure Negro troops used; that there appear to be no accusations against the behavior of such French colonial troops as remain in the occupied territories; that Mr. Wallace has already discussed the matter with the French prime minister, it would appear to me inadvisable that the American Government should be asked to take any further action at the present time.

I am very glad to be able to furnish you with full information in this matter and request only that the inclosures herewith be considered as for your confidential use and that of the members of your committee.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

NORMAN H. DAVIS, _Acting Secretary_.

APPENDIX I.

June 12, 1920.

AMERICAN EMBASSY, _Paris_:

Department is receiving telegrams and letters protesting against the use of African troops in occupied Germany by the French. Please give your views as to the truth of the accusations being made against the behavior of these troops and whether you believe these accusations are well founded. Advise department what you deem advisable in the way of representations to the French Government on this subject. It is not department’s desire to lend too credulous an ear to these sensational reports and yet it may be of interest to the French Government to know that such reports are being persistently circulated and that they are having a harmful effect on public opinion, not being fully refuted.

COLBY.

APPENDIX II.

PARIS, _June 25, 1920_.

SECRETARY OF STATE, _Washington_:

Gen. Allen reports that there are at present in occupied Germany regiments of Moroccans, Algerians, Zouaves, and Malgaches, but no Senegalese. According to my understanding the Algerian troops comprise natives of Algeria of French and French Arab stock, and some Mahomedans, not Negroes. The Moroccan regiments comprise Arabs and Mahomedans, not Negroes. The Malgaches are Malays from Madagascar, and the Zouaves are special infantry regiments, not Negroes.

Mixed blacks. Senegalese are Negroes.

The American commissioner states that agitation against the black troops is carried on by papers of all political opinions, that the German Government has formally protested to the French Government, that complaints have come from men of all classes, that the papers claim that America should understand the situation on account of our Negro question and charge that assaults have been made on German women, but that the facts can not be checked and that the American consul reported deep anger of population of Frankfort and vicinity over use of black troops. These troops have been withdrawn. French newspapers have denied German press reports on several occasions, but I have seen no official denial in the press or elsewhere.

Minister of War Lefevre, speaking in the chamber on June 17 regarding the army budget and the future of the French black troops, stated: “As for our black troops, we shall not tolerate the interested criticisms which are being made on the other side of the Rhine.”

It is my belief that it would be a friendly act to inform Millerand that department is receiving many telegrams and letters of protest and that it may interest the French Government to know that the persistent reports are not fully refuted and are having a harmful effect upon public opinion.

WALLACE.

APPENDIX III.

PARIS, _July 22, 1920_.

SECRETARY OF STATE, _Washington, D. C._:

1431, July 22, 10 p. m.

Your 1185, June 29, 5 p. m. I have spoken in accordance with authorization to Millerand, who answered that he was quite aware of the campaign referred to and mentioned the recent activities in Berlin of an American woman. He expressed appreciation of the information that the reports had not been fully refuted and said he would take the necessary steps to that end.

WALLACE.

APPENDIX IV.

COBLENZ, _July 26, 1920_.

SECRETARY OF STATE, _Washington_:

Your June 22, 5 p. m., regarding alleged mistreatment by French colored troops of German women. The average number of French Negro troops on the Rhine from January, 1919, to June, 1920, was 5,200. The number of North African troops, Arabs, and mixed blood, 20,000. All regiments of pure Negroes (Senegalese) were removed June 5, one regiment of Madagascar troops and a few individual Negro or Negroid remaining in other colonial troops. During entire period of occupation there were 66 cases of actual or alleged rape, sodomy, or similar offenses reported to French officials. The action taken resulted in 28 convictions, 11 acquittals, the other cases not being completed. The offenses included some insulting proposals and offensive conduct toward German women. The sentences varied from 30 days, to 10 years, confinement. Widespread reports and complaints in the German press are based on the foregoing cases and some others not officially reported to French officials, and while these reports have some foundation they are undoubtedly greatly exaggerated and are being used as propaganda against the French troops and are inspired by possibilities of war animosity. Investigation continuing. Full report follows.

APPENDIX V.

INTERALLIED RHINELAND HIGH COMMISSION, AMERICAN DEPARTMENT, _Coblenz, Germany, July 2, 1920_.

SIR: 1. In compliance with your cablegram of June 22, 1920, regarding alleged mistreatment of German women by French colored troops, and in elaboration of my cablegram of June 28, I submit the following report, based on a personal investigation conducted by Col. Le Vert Coleman, C. A. C., American liaison officer with the commanding general of the allied forces of occupation.

2. During the period from January, 1919, to June 1, 1920:

(_a_) The average number of Negro troops in the French Army of the Rhine was 5,200 men.

(_b_) The average number of French colonial troops composed of natives of Africa not of pure Negro blood, including distinct races such as Arabs from Algeria, Moroccans, etc., and mixed blood races, such as the Malgaches from Madagascar, who are Negroids, was 20,000 men. During the entire period from the first day of the occupation in 1918, to the 1st of June, 1920, 66 cases of alleged rape, attempted rape, sodomy, or attempted sodomy have been officially reported to the French military authorities, against their colored colonial troops in the occupied territories of the Rhinelands. Among these cases, there have been 28 convictions, including several cases where the intent was not fully proved, but punishment was given by minor courts corresponding to our summary and garrison courts, for indecent proposals and obscene handling of women and girls against their will. There have been 11 acquittals. There have been 23 investigations leading to trials, the results of which have not been published yet. There have been 6 cases where the offenders could not be found. The penalties inflicted have been varied; from 10 years at hard labor for aggravated cases of rape, to 30 days in prison for indecent mishandling of women.

3. At the present time, the Senegalese brigade having all left the Rhinelands between June 1 and 6, 1920, there actually remains but one regiment of troops of Negroid origin, the First Regiment of Chasseurs Malgaches. There are, however, a few individual Negroes or Negroids in the other French colonial regiments.

4. A very violent newspaper campaign attacking the French colonial troops, especially the Negro troops, broke out simultaneously throughout Germany coincident with the time of the French evacuation of Frankfurt and Darmstadt, and has continued up to the present time. It is unquestionably a fact that many gross exaggerations were circulated in the German press concerning the conduct of the French colonial troops. The allegations in the German press have been, for the most part, so indefinite as to time and place, and circumstance, as to leave it impracticable to verify the alleged facts, or to disprove them.

5. After all proper allowance is made for the natural difficulties, which always are to be expected in tracing crimes of this nature, due to the shame and distress of the victims, the great mass of the articles in the German press, by the simultaneous appearance all over Germany, and by the failure to cite time, place, and circumstance sufficiently clear to enable the truth to be ascertained, give to an impartial observer the impression of an adroit political move which would tend to sow antipathy to France in the other lands of the allied and associated powers, especially in America, where the Negro question is always capable of arousing feeling.

6. The Rheinische Zeitung and the Kolnische Volkszeitung, recently suspended for publishing attacks on the French colored colonial troops, admit under date of June 15, that they employed certain terms and expressions which they might better have omitted, due to the imperfection of the news coming for the most part from outside sources, says the Volkszeitung, and from Berlin says the Rheinische Zeitung. This tends to bear out the opinion noted above, which is further strengthened by dissentant voices in the South German press which protests against exaggerated accusations by other German papers against colored French troops.

7. These exaggerated attacks in the German press outside of the Rhinelands have, in several cases, been refuted by responsible officials (German) and citizens of the Rhinelands.

Herr Kohler, mayor of Worms; Herr Bischoff, police commissioner of Worms, referring to the Senegalese troops, reports to the Interallied Rhineland High Commission, that with the exception of one incident, the Senegalese troops in Worms have not committed any misdemeanor and have been under perfect discipline during their entire stay in Worms.

Herr Levy, from Kreuznach, and several Germans, have written open letters protesting against what they term unfair exaggerations in the German press against the troops.

8. Among gross exaggerations in the German press may be cited the following:

(_a_) Claim that there are 40,000 colored French troops in the Palatinate.

(_b_) Claim that Frankfort was occupied by 20,000 men entirely formed of Negro (Senegalese) troops. French official report shows that no Senegalese occupied Frankfort, but first Moroccan and Algerian tirailleurs and later French troops (white).

(_c_) Numerous atrocities in the Saar, where young women are said to have been forcibly abducted, raped, mutilated, killed, and their bodies thrown into manure piles. The burgermeister of Saarbrucken, the inspector of the Caserne Petain, Herr Welsch, proprietor of the manure pile; Wilhelm Roth, caretaker; Herr Geppert, employee, have all given written and oral testimony wholly refuting the accusations.

(_d_) Claim of the German press that large numbers of young Austrian girls who had come to the vicinity of Mainz to get away from the famine in Austria were raped. The Austrian Government is reported to have made an investigation through its consular service and to have found that not a single such case had occurred.

(_e_) Investigation by Col. Bonvialle, commanding the Twelfth Tirailleurs, May 21, 1920, concerning charges of sodomy near Euskirchen, with medical report, indicates that the charges could not be sustained.

(_f_) Claims in the Nauen Radio Service on April 29, 1920, that the working people of Alsace-Lorraine had protested, demanding the removal of the Moroccan division from Alsace-Lorraine, when there was no part of those troops in Alsace-Lorraine.

9. On the other hand, undoubtedly many instances have occurred where women or girls have been assaulted and some where boys and men have been sodomized by members of the French colored colonial troops. See report above as to the official figures. There are undoubtedly cases which are not included in the official figures, due to the natural desire to keep out of obscene notoriety. For example, a case of attempted assault was reported June 14, 1920, from Saarbrucken which is not included in the French official figures. Some cases will never come to light, due to the natural feeling of shame of the women concerned, but they are, in my opinion, cases such as generally occur in any land when soldiery is for a long time quartered upon the population.