HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019
[Copy included in TNA file FO 383/1/18142]
Up to the entry of the USA into the war in 1917 the Americans looked after the interests of the German and Austro-Hungarian Governments - one of their duties was to inspect and report on the various internment camps - hence the requests channelled to the American Ambassador.
The FO cover notes have "this does not point to a satisfactory state of affairs. This is the fourth complaint we have sent on to the H.O. [Home Office] in 3 weeks." Later complaints were to come from all camps eg one in December 1915 from Camp 3.
This section of the camp, built at speed, had only opened in June/July 1915 - things would not get any better for months. The previous inspection visit had been in late June before this section had accepted any internees and at the start in the rapid doubling of numbers at Knockaloe, the next would be in December 1915 which might well have been occasioned by the many complaints received once the usual Manx winter weather had arrived.
From the given camp numbers of the majority of the 34 signatories they had arrived in the large batch of over 1000 from Alexandra Palace on the 30th September of whom 290 were placed in Camp 2 - it is likely these Austrians had been placed in the same hut and would be the final large group of arrivals in this camp.
Aliens Detention Camp,Knockaloe, I.o.Man
18th Nov. 1915
Sir, You will pardon the undersigned for appealing to you Sir, to use your valuable influence to obtain redress of our just Complaint. Sir we do not take this step of appealing to you Sir without having fair reason Our complaint is in regards to the conditions in this camp which are getting with every day worse.
The huts we are living in are not weather tight and do not give near enough shelter at this time of the year, the floors and the walls are wet through, and under present circumstances they are not likely to get dry again until the warm weather sets in once more, in short the accommodation given to us is not a fit habitation at the present time, what is necessary is either the removal from here or speedy improvement of this unhealthy and very needy circumstances. We are in need of more fires as there is only one stove provided for a hut of 90 men, as these huts are built in 3 sections, so there is only one section with 30 men who can get possibly the benefit of the fire, and the rest must do the best they can, of course Sir what that means in a hut with wet floors and walls is easily understood, without exaggerating the matter, it is absolutely urgent that we do get a fire in each hut section and sufficient coal supply to keep the huts dry. We are forced Sir, to draw your kind attention to the unsuitableness of the latrines, wash and dry room accomodation, the latrines are not sheltered suficient and require roofing in, the wash house is too small for a 1000 people and is very poorly fitted the dry room where we should have all possible chance to dry our clothing quick and well is not all suitable for that purpose, it is no more than justice that those offices should be in proper condition to prevent serious sickness which is sure to follow after this bad state of affairs especially as the majority of the people in this camps are not seasoned to the severe stress laid up on them and may prove fatal to many before the winter is past.
We pray you Sir to bring the matter before the proper authorities in London, we are almost convinced of the fact that the British Government does not intend to treat us in such an unjustifying manner .
Again Sir we point humbly out to you Sir that we bring this matter
before you after we have failed to get any redress from the local. authorities.
Trusting your excellency will give this matter due and speedy consideration,
We have the honour to be ,
Your humble and obedient servants,
the undersigned Austrian subjects, 34 in number, enclosed,
The statement made in the public press that we are treated according to the rules laid down by the Hague Convention, is not a fact and treatment meted out to us leaves in ever way much to be desired.
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