THE LANSING PAPERS, 1914-1920, VOLUME I



prisoner, and found that he also was out. In the afternoon however
the latter lawyer called at my house, saying that in the morning he
had heard from the German Commandantur that judgment would
be passed only the next morning viz. Thursday morning. He said he
feared that the Court would be very severe for all the prisoners.
  Shortly after this lawyer left me, and while I was preparing a
note about the case, at 8 p. mi., I was privately and reliably informed
that the judgment had been delivered at five o'clock in the afternoon,
that Miss Cavell had been sentenced to death, and that she would be
shot at 2 o'clock the next morning. I told my informer that I was
extremely surprised at this, because the Legation had received no
information yet, neither from the German Authorities nor from Mr.
Kirschen, but that the matter was too serious to run the smallest
chance, and that therefore I would proceed immediately to the Lega-
tion to confer with Your Excellency and take all possible steps to
save Miss Cavell's life.
  According to Your Excellency's decision, Mr. Gibson and myself
went, with the Spanish Minister, to see Baron von der Lancken, and
the report of our interview and of our efforts to save Miss Cavell is
given to you by Mr. Gibson.'5
  This morning, Mr. Gahan, the English clergyman, called to see
me and told me that he had seen Miss Cavell in her cell yesterday
night at 10 o'clock, that he had given her the Holy Communion and
had found her admirably strong and calm. I asked Mr. Gahan
whether she had made any remarks about anything concerning the
legal side of her case, and whether the confession which she made
before the trial and in court was in his opinion perfectly free and
sincere. Mr. Gahan says that she told him she perfectly well knew
what she had done, that according to the law of course she was guilty
and had admitted her guilt, but that she was happy to die for her
country.
                                                   G. DE LEVAL.
                      [Subenclosure-Translation ]
    The Minister in Belgium (Whitlock) to M. Sadi Kirsohen

No. 7525                              BRUSSELS, October 5, 1915.
  MY DEAR Sm: Thank you for the letter you have addressed to Mr.
de Leval,"' informing him that the affair of Miss Cavell would come
up before the Council of War on Thursday next at 8 a. m.
  As agreed, I would be greatly obliged if, after the hearing, you
would be good enough to send me a memorandum, setting forth the
causes for which Miss Cavell is being prosecuted and indicating the

  15 See enclosure 7, p. 51.
  "No copy enclosed with this despatch.



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