Washington, D. C., Aug 3-1917.

Gov. of North Carolina
Raleigh, N.C.

Number twenty seven fifteen. Reference your telegram August third. The matter of furnishing the necessary force will be taken up at a conference with the Secretary of War and the Attornory General tomorrow. If persons refuse to appear before exemption boards they will be automatically inducted into military service under the regulations in due course. They may then be handled as absentees or deserters from the army. If use of force becomes necessary it ought to proceed in the first instance, I think, from civil peace officers with a detachment of trrops close at hand for moral effect and for use if necessary. Of course federal troops will be made available if it should be your final judgement that the situation requires these. Please give your views on these suggestions. I will be able to answer you more definitely tomorrow.

Crowder
8:14 AM Aug 4