Separation of Germans and Austro-Hungarians

A perenial complaint of Austro-Hungarian internees was the perceived unfairness between the treatment meted out to them by the British as compared to the position of British in the dual-Kingdom where relatively few were interned and many could continue their business; allied to this was the feeling that some of their treatment was caused by reprisals based on the treatment of British prisoners in the German camps.

However it would seem that the consideration of separating the two nationalities had been considered very early on, but the British Government was afraid of both poor publicity and probable reprisals by the Germans as seen in the following letter on file.

[From FO 383/107/10571]

Copy of a letter from Mr Acland to Mr Loughlin [?American Embassy] dated 26th Jan 1915

Dear Mr Loughlin,

You asked me some days ago to procure for you answers to certain questions which you showed to me in a letter to you from a colleague in the Embassy at Vienna.

Some of the points mentioned involved the obtaining of figures, and therefore I am only now able to reply

In the first place I am able to state that we should be able and willing to separate Austro-Hungarian from German subjects in our camps and ships of detention, if the Austro-Hungarian Govt were to ask us to do so. We could not do so if the request were based on a charge of bad treatment, for this would admit the charge - and we do not admit it - but if the request were made in general terms, or from the point of view of administrative convenience, with regard to the administration of relief, or visits of inspection, we would at once arrange it.

Secondly we are most ready to arrange that all or any of the camps shall be visited or inspected at regular or irregular intervals by any persons whom Mr Page [American Ambassor in London] might nominate as often or as thoroughly as he likes - and all visitors will be allowed to talk to all prisoners without the presence of any camp official, or other person, as heretofore.

Thirdly if the Austro-Hungarian Govt would desire to have a similar machinery set up for their subjects for providing extra food and comforts in addition to the normal allowances, as is now in working order fot German subjects under Mr Lowry's administration we should be delighted - We would of course give Austrians just the same facilities for electing their own committees, and for corresponding direct and as often as was desired, with your official, as is now done in the case of Germans.

As to treatment I forward you two papers One is a memorandum which summarises the camp regulations, a copy of which was sent to Mr Page in December. This applies to civilians as well as to military prisoners except where otherwise stated. The second is a copy of a report by Mr H.N.Hall a staff correspondent of the "New York World". I believe it gives a fair picture, and it is undoubtedly good journalism, which will be appreciated in Vienna. This shows particularly what the official statement does not bring out, namely the arrangements made for providing extra comfort for persons of a higher social status, so that they do not have to mix with persons to whom they are not accustomed. I think that the A-H govt will appreciate the fact that such arrangements are made wherever possible.

I enclose also a copy of the "Journal de Geneve" which contains a report by Col Schindler, a German Swiss upon his visit to some of the camps. Col Schindler is a General Manager of the Oenlikon Electrical Works near Zurich, and there is no reason to think that his report would in any way be biassed in our favour. It has already appeared in "Basler Nachrichten", but I have no copy

As the numbers were approximately 12000 male A-H subjects registered at the beginning of the war of these about 4000 are now interned, a large proportion because they had become unable to support themselves and about 1000 have been allowed to leave the country. From this you will see that the proportion of males interned is little more than one-third of the total number in the country. It is needless to say that no women have been interned.

The last question was I think the scale of allowance which we should wish given to British subjects still in Austria-Hungary - I feel quite unable to fix a scale. I imagine that in some places more may be needed than others and that more may be needed in a few months time than now, and that the amount needed may vary according to the previous circumstances and social position of the persons concerned. I can only say that we have complete confidence in everything that has been done and may be done in the future by your Ambassador in Vienna and that we shall not think of questioning his action or discretion in the matter,

I think we have already let you know that we shall be glad to place more money at his disposal if at any time he needs it.

You will perhaps explain to your friend why we are unwilling of our own motion to separate Germans from Austrians. He will know by this time, I think, that we have good reason to believe that in Germany, in some camps at any rate, deliberate policy of discrimination against British prisoners is being pursued. If we were to initiate a separation between the subjects of the two Countries this would seem to be and represented as being in order that we might the more easily retaliate against Germany for the treatment of our prisoners in Germany. We are convinced that any policy of retaliation would be both wrong and mistaken and therefore we are unwilling to see anything which might seem to foreshadow it, But this as I have explained does not apply to anything which might be initiated in Vienna, whence it would seem to us quite natural request for separate treatment might come,

I remain, Yours most truly, (signed) F D. Acland.

Notes

No separation took place; the camps remained mixed although Austro-Hungarian committees were set up and after the Americans joined the war the Austro-Hungarian interests were represented by the Swedes whereas the Swiss looked after the German interests.

The Austrian Empire contained many peoples who would prefer to be independent, which they obtained after the Peace Conference of 1921 but as the war went on the British Government developed the concept of Friendly Enemy Aliens, notably the Poles, Southern Slavs (who joined with Serbia to form the now disbanded Jugoslavia) and Bohemians (Czechs + Slovaks). Towards the end of the war many of these friendly Aliens were transferred to Feltham

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor Transcription © F.Coakley , 2021