Notwithstanding the request of the American Legation in its letter of October 5th that it be advised not only as to the charges, but also as to the sentence imposed upon Miss Cavell, and the express promise of M. Kirschen to inform it of all developments, it was kept in ignorance of the fact that sentence of death had been passed upon her. Minister Whitlock only heard this on October 11th, and he at once addressed a letter to Baron von der Lancken in which, after stating this fact, he appealed "to the sentiment of generosity and humanity in the Governor General in favor of Miss Cavell," with a view to commutation of the death sentence, and at the same time addressed a similar letter to Baron von Bissing, the Military Governor of Belgium, who did not deign to give to the American Government even the cold courtesy of a reply. On the morning of October 11th our Minister heard--not from the German authorities, but from unofficial sources--that the trial had been completed on the preceding Saturday afternoon, and he at once communicated with the Political Department of the German Military Government, and was expressly assured "that no sentence had been pronounced and that there would probably be a delay of a day or two before a decision was reached." The Director of the Political Department (Herr Conrad) gave a further "_positive assurance that the [American] Legation would be fully informed as to the developments in the case._" Notwithstanding this direct promise and further "repeated inquiries in the course of the day," no further word reached our Legation, and at 6.20 p.m. it again inquired as to Miss Cavell's fate, and the Director of the Political Department again "_stated that sentence had not yet been pronounced_," and he specifically renewed his assurance. Two hours later our Minister _from unofficial sources_ heard that all that had been told him by the Political Department was untrue, and that the sentence had been passed at 5 o'clock p.m.; _before his last conversation with the Director_, and that the execution was to take place that night. Accordingly the Secretary of the American Legation proceeded at once to Baron von der Lancken, and again asked as a favor to this Government that clemency be extended. He brought with him a letter from the American Minister, which reads as follows: "My dear Baron: "I am too ill to put my request before you in person, but once more I appeal to the generosity of your heart. Stand by and save from death this unfortunate woman. Have pity on her. Your devoted servant, "BRAND WHITLOCK." Accompanying this purely personal note were two substantially similar communications, the one directed to Baron von Bissing and the other to Baron von der Lancken. These communications run as follows: