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prime necessities either in Switzerland or possibly Poland. Committee believes if immediate action taken many infants may be saved whose mothers too weak to nurse them. Among adults, terrible disease has broken out as result of lack of fats, which brings on blindness first and then death. On previous occasion, Polish Committee informs me, arrangement was made with Swiss Government to distribute supplies through Swiss Consul, Warsaw, German Government giving written guarantees against requisition of consignment, and scheme worked satisfactorily. Committee's report terminates: "If America can save our children, it will win their and our eternal gratitude, and their prayers for the future of your great country." Believe cash installment of say $100,000 would alleviate situation in some accessible districts by immediate action, but doubt personally that larger sum could at present be expended on purchases made in Switzerland. Whitehouse.

File No. 811.142/2484b

WILSON

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Wilson)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, October 11, 1917. 1016. Your October 8. Red Cross ready to provide cash up to $100,000 for immediate relief of children in Poland. Must be definitely understood that this money for purchase of supplies, milk, medicines, etc., in Switzerland only. No purchases in Poland and money not to be sent to Poland. Also must be understood that agreements can be made for guaranteeing shipment and delivery to Polish committees as set out in Department's telegram October 2 or guarantees in opinion of Legation equally effectual. If such agreements can be made, Red Cross will undertake further shipments from this country at once subject to the approval of the American Government. If this $100,000 is forwarded it will be forwarded to the Legation to be paid over to the Committee as needed for actual purchases. American Red Cross.

PHILLIPS

File No. 861.48/382

The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Netherlands (Garrett)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, October 12, 1917, 3 p. m.

721. Your 1156, August 3, 5 p. m.1 Department informed that Spanish Ambassador received a telegram on October 2 from Minister of Foreign Affairs in Madrid stating that he had been informed

'Not printed; see Charge's telegram of May 31, ante, p. 501,

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by Spanish Ambassador in Berlin that the Oberrabbiner had told him that the German Government not only has no objection to the distribution of relief to the Jews in territories occupied by Germany, through the consular representatives of Holland, but is disposed to facilitate the distribution of these funds by means of Dutch or other neutral subjects, although up to that time there had been no negotiations in the matter between the Governments of Germany and Holland.

Please refer to your 1045, July 6, 5 p. m.,1 and endeavor to clear up misunderstanding which appears to have arisen in this connection. LANSING

File No. 861.48/385

The Minister in the Netherlands (Garrett) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

THE HAGUE, October 15, 1917, 7 p. m.

[Received October 16, 1.40 a. m.]

1487. Your telegram 721, October 12. Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me that he has just received a telegram from Dutch Minister at Berlin stating that German Government has no objection to sum of $40,000 being paid to Mr. Nathanson through the Dutch Consul at Warsaw, and on account of rate of exchange payments must be made through the Reichs Bank and the Warsaw Landes Darlehenkassa in Polish marks. Mr. Senior has been notified. Please inform Central Distribution Committee, New York. Unable to explain why Dutch Government has not been informed of German decision before, as Minister for Foreign Affairs has sent repeated telegrams to Berlin on this subject. Distribution Jewish relief.

GARRETT

File No. 012/16396f

The Secretary of State to the Polish Victims' Relief Fund 2 WASHINGTON, October 16, 1917.

GENTLEMEN: With reference to the Department's letter to you of August 21, 1917,3 authorizing you to send money, subject to the observance of certain conditions and with due regard to the provisions of pending legislation, to certain destinations abroad, the Department now begs leave to inform you that this authorization has automati

1 Not printed.

2 The same, mutatis mutandis, on the same date, to the American Express Co. and C. B. Richard & Co. (File Nos. 012/16396c, 16396b.)

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cally become nullified through the provisions of the so-called Trading with the Enemy Act (H.R. 4960).

The Department is taking up with the War Trade Board, in which is vested the authority to grant licenses, the question of licensing your Committee to continue its work along the lines formerly indicated. Until further advised by the Department, however, you should discontinue the transmission of all lists, drafts, transfers or other communications to the destinations specified in the authorization previously accorded.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:

WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Assistant Secretary

File No. 811.142/2472a

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Sharp)

2716. For Dresel:

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, October 16, 1917, 5 p. m.

American Red Cross inquires whether while in London you inter viewed British authorities concerning their attitude with respect to proposed relief of Polish children by shipments of milk through Swiss authorities, no American or commercial tonnage being used therefor, and if so what information you obtained upon the subject. Matter urgent.

LANSING

File No. 861.48/385

The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Netherlands (Garrett)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, October 18, 1917, 1 p. m.

729. Your 1487, October 15, 7 p. m. Not clear from your telegram whether German Government has agreed to let Dutch Consul, Warsaw, control distribution of American relief funds in general or only in the single case of $40,000 mentioned. Please explain. LANSING

File No. 861.48/392

The Minister in the Netherlands (Garrett) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

THE HAGUE, October 22, 1917.
[Received 9.10 p. m.]

1529. Your 729, October 19 [18]. Senior and Bogen only requested permission to send $40,000 to Warsaw in order to have a

specific case presented to the German Government. This having been granted, they are arranging for similar distribution in all occupied territory. Dutch Government gladly cooperates and no further difficulty expected on the part of Germany.

GARRETT

File No. 861.48/390

The Chargé in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

BERNE, October 20, 1917, 7 p. m.

[Received October 22, 1.25 p. m.]

1898. For American Red Cross [from Dresel]:

Department's 1025, 17th.1 Regret accidental delay in receiving Department's 1016, 11th, preventing earlier answer. Have had further conference with President, Vevey Committee, who now freely acknowledges obvious impossibility of purchasing milk or other foodstuffs here and impracticability, even if could be bought, of obtaining export permission. As alternative requests that amount of $100,000 mentioned be forwarded for purchase of supplies by Vevey Committee in neutral countries, such as Denmark and Spain. I hear, however, very questionable whether considerable quantity could be secured this way.

Referring Department's October 16, 5 p. m., to Paris. Did not make inquiries in London as had not been advised that Polish relief in kind was contemplated, but am familiar with attitude of British Government which has since been confirmed by interview at British Legation here and which is entirely opposed to shipment of foodstuffs, including milk for children, to Poland, on the ground that Germany has never been willing to guarantee that amount of food corresponding to that imported would not be sent out of Poland into Germany by reason of such shipments. The technicalities [sic] relative to this policy previous to departure of American Embassy from Berlin was due to the effective control which it was thought Embassy could exert. This question of control already emphasized as believed impossible to obtain the neutral supervision at present. In my opinion British policy, unless modification arranged through diplomatic channels, will mean impossibility of relief shipments in kind into Poland. On the other hand British consider transfer to Poland of funds for local purchases practicable and beneficial. I concur in this view and regret that at least a trial can not be made in view of undoubtedly critical situation which it seems impossible to relieve by other means. Believe that much food can still be bought in Poland

1 Not printed.

through Jewish traders and from accumulators of stores. As to guarantees mentioned your 1016, Vevey Committee has exhibited signed communications satisfactory in form from German Legation here, dated April 20, May 27, and June 27, this year, stating that shipments by Committee of grain, mill products, rice, potato chips, and condensed milk also, in case sent directly to Committee from overseas, of fats, bacon, tinned meats, will not be interfered with in Germany nor in occupied Poland. Dresel.

WILSON

File No. 012/16396f

The Secretary of State to the Polish Victims' Relief Fund 1

WASHINGTON, October 26, 1917. GENTLEMEN: With reference to its letter of October 16, 1917, the Department informs you that according to advice received from the War Trade Board you should apply direct to that Board with a view to obtaining a license to permit you to send drafts, transfers of credit, lists of payees or other communications abroad in connection with the work formerly undertaken by your Committee under this Department's authorization.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:

WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Assistant Secretary

File No. 861.48/403

The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State No. 453

MEMORANDUM

The British Ambassador presents his compliments to the United States Secretary of State, and has the honour to inform him that he duly cominunicated by telegraph to His Majesty's Government the substance of Mr. Lansing's memorandum of October 3 on the subject of relief to the population of Poland.2

A telegram has now been received from Mr. Secretary Balfour, stating that His Majesty's Government agree that no general relief of any kind should be given.

They also agree in principle to remittances, limited in amount and sent through approved societies. A special committee is being

1

The same, mutatis mutandis, on the same date, to the American Express Co. and C. B. Richard & Co. (File Nos. 012/16396c Suppl., 16396b Suppl.) "Ante, p. 510.

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