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...

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 let

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

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 a

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,

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....

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

I. The wholesale atrocities by French Negro colonial troops alleged in the German press, such as the alleged abductions, followed by rape, mutilation, murder, and concealment of the bodies of the victims are false and intended for political propaganda. II. A number of cases of rape, attempted rape, sodomy, attempted sodomy, and obscene mishandling of women and girls have occurred on the part of French Negro colonial troops in the Rhinelands. These cases have been occasional and in restricted num

Coblenz, August 19, 1920 . Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.: In a communication from the French high commissioner to the general commanding the French Army of occupation the former requests that instructions be given all members of that Army concerning their relations with and attitude toward German civilians. The French general has adopted the suggestion, and by means of conferences, orders, and schools in the units of his command, is instructing all officers and men that the occupying for

June 19, 1920. American Mission, Berlin (Germany). Your 625, June 15, 11 a. m. Department is in receipt of frequent protests from various organizations and individuals against conduct of French troops in occupied region, particularly alleged mistreatment of German women by French black troops. The wording of these protests suggests that they are inspired by a propaganda agency and are based on reports in German press. Department assumes that you are not in a position to definitely determine the

No. 464. July 16, 1920. The Secretary of State, Washington. Sir: Adverting to my dispatch No. 442, of July 5, and to my telegrams Nos. 806 and 807, of July 12, and No. 812, of July 15, I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation of a newspaper account of the so-called American protest meeting against the use by France of colored troops in the occupied Rhineland area, held in Berlin on the evening of July 14. I beg likewise to inclose a copy of the issue of the European Press (formerly th