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situation. The suggestion that there be a commission would seem to divide the responsibility which, I am afraid, would be unwise. If, however, in your judgment some closer form of integration between the Department of State and the War Department in the matter is wise, I shall be most happy to take the matter up further with you. Cordially yours,

NEWTON D. BAKER

File No. 763.72114/2989

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

[Telegram]

BERNE, October 25, 1917, 9 a. m. [Received October 26, 1.45 a. m.] 1921. Your 988 October 3. Swiss postal authorities are still waiting for formal assent of French Government to proposition regarding free transmission of parcels. Suggest that American Embassy, Paris, be directed to inform French Government of contents your 988 and to request immediate communication to Director of Berne Post Office of French acquiescence in the project.

WILSON

File No. 763.72114/3033

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

[Telegram]

MADRID, November 12, 1917, 10 a. m.

[Received November 13, 9.30 a. m.]

877. Department's instructions 613, August 22.1 Following note verbale from the Foreign Office :

Referring to the telegraphic consultation between the Spanish Ambassador, Berlin, and the Ministry of State, concerning the memorandum of the American Embassy, proposing the designation of three or more Spaniards (one of them at least a food expert) to act as special attachés of Spanish Embassy and to have charge of distribution, and to inspect prison camps where there might be Americans (a plan originating with the American Red Cross, which desired also that other trustworthy persons be sent to the Central Powers as its agents in an inspection of prison camps as advisers and food experts under the direction of the above-mentioned attachés), the Spanish Ambassador states that believing it opportune to discover confidentially the attitude of the German Government, the Under Secretary of State with whom he spoke concerning the

1 Ante, p. 7.

matter stated that agents of the American Red Cross would not be accepted for inspection of prison camps.

Have communicated the above to Howland through Embassy, Paris.

WILSON

File No. 763.72114/2989

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

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, November 21, 1917.

1143. Your 1921, October 25. French Foreign Office states French Line taking necessary measures to ensure according to its means transportation postal packages for prisoners of war between the United States and Germany, parcels forwarded from the United States to prisoners to be contained in special bundles and to be accompanied by special waybills so as to avoid confusion with commercial parcel post. A specimen of waybill will shortly be submitted to French Government. Have requested French Government to inform Director Berne Post Office of its formal acquiescence to this project for the free transmission of parcels. If French Embassy Berne is not soon instructed by its Government, please request Ambassador to inquire in order that the system may be put into early operation. Presume that Swiss Government will arrange matters with Germany. Reply.

LANSING

[For plans of the War Department for employment of prisoners of war see letter of November 23, 1917, and Department's reply of December 4, post, pages 183, 185.]

File No. 763.72114/3065

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

3016. For Red Cross:

[Telegram]

BERNE, November 26, 1917, 11 a. m.
[Received November 28, 6.50 a. m.]

Am forwarding report of Spanish inspectors dated November 11 on camp at Brandenburg, containing 28 American prisoners of whom 19 distributed in working camps, stating that treatment and discipline good but

1 1 Not printed.

(1) Barracks, especially regarding heating, lighting and ex-
posure to rain, unsatisfactory;

(2) That petty officers Kline and Roop compelled to work;
(3) Dr. John W. Brown, medical officer of Esmeraldas, de-
tained contrary to Geneva convention.

Spanish Embassy has taken up these three points with Foreign Office. Food served unsatisfactory but prisoners are receiving packages regularly and appear not suffering in health or otherwise. Inspectors not allowed to converse without witness. I suggest that you secure, if possible, confirmation of Doctor Brown's medical status. Dresel.

WILSON

File No. 763.72114/3065

No. 46

The Secretary of State to the Swiss Minister (Sulzer)

WASHINGTON, December 1, 1917. SIR: In view of the telegraphic information received from the Spanish Embassy in Berlin, in charge of American interests in Germany, to the effect that the official prison camp inspectors of the Embassy are not permitted to converse with American prisoners without witness, I regret to have to inform you that hereafter, in conducting inspections of camps or stations where German prisoners are interned in the United States, representatives of the Legation of Switzerland, in charge of German interests in the United States, can not be allowed the privilege of speaking to such prisoners except in the presence of American officials, until the German Government shall have agreed to reciprocity in permitting such conversations without witnesses.

I shall be glad if you will be good enough to inform the German Government to this effect, and if you will state that this Government has hitherto raised no objection to the representatives of your Legation speaking with German prisoners out of hearing of the guards. Accept [etc.] ROBERT LANSING

File No. 763.72114/3017e

The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the War Trade Board (McCormick)

WASHINGTON, December 3, 1917.

SIR: With reference to the conference held at this office on November 20, 1917, at which a tentative plan was drawn up in regard to

the censorship and transmission of letters, money orders and parcels to and from American prisoners in Germany and German prisonera in the United States, I have the honor to inform you that the War Department, the Postoffice Department and the Censorship Board have now officially concurred in the suggested procedure and that the plan has the approval of this Department also.

The plan as drawn up and approved is as follows:

(1) To American prisoners in Germany

(a) Letters. That these be addressed directly to the prisoner in Germany giving his name, designation and address and marked "Prisoners of War Mail-via New York," the letters to be mailed in the usual manner and the Postoffice Department on receiving them to submit them to the Postal Censorship Board, which will be licensed by the War Trade Board to send them forward after censorship.

(b) Money orders. That these be sent to the American National Red Cross which will be licensed to forward them to the International Red Cross in Geneva.

(c) Parcels. That no individual parcels be sent outside of the food packages which are now sent regularly by the American Red Cross-Central Committee for American Prisoners at Berne.

(2) From American prisoners in Germany

Letters. That the Postoffice Department on receiving them shall submit them to the Postal Censorship Board which will be licensed by the War Trade Board to forward them to their destination after censorship.

(3) To German prisoners in the United States

Letters. That the Postoffice Department on receiving them shall send them direct to the prison camps where they will be censored by the military censors supplied by the War Department and licensed by the War Trade Board for this purpose. Letters to prisoners held by the Department of Justice and the Department of Labor to be censored by the censors supplied by the Department of Justice who will be licensed by the War Trade Board accordingly.

(4) From German prisoners in the United States

Letters to be censored in the same manner as under heading (3).

In concurring in this plan the War Department omitted all reference to parcels as dealt with under heading (1) (c). It appears that this matter can be left in abeyance for the present.

The Department will be glad to be informed of such steps as may be taken by the War Trade Board in issuing licenses in order to put into operation the plan determined upon.

I am [etc.]

ROBERT LANSING

File No. 763.72114/3160a

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, December 26, 1917, 5 p. m.

6121. If you have not already done so, the Department will be glad to have you make arrangements with the British Government for the Military Attaché to be placed in touch with any British prisoners who may escape from Germany in order to ascertain from them all possible information regarding American prisoners in Germany, including names, whereabouts, treatment, condition of camps, receipt of food packages, etc. Report by cable all important information that may be obtained in this matter.

LANSING

File No. 763.72114/3147

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

[Telegram]

BERNE, December 31, 1917, 6 p. m.

[Received January 2, 1918, 11.45 p. m.]

Department's 1143, November 21. Swiss Post Office notifies Legation Germany has assented to proposal for transmission to Germany through France and Switzerland of individual parcels up to 5 kilograms for prisoners. Service can start immediately as Switzerland has notified French Post Office and completed local arrangements. WILSON

File No. 763.72114/3160d

The Secretary of the State to the Ambassador in Spain (Willard)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, January 4, 1918, 3 p. m.

814. The Department has received reports which indicate that American prisoners in Germany will not be given same treatment as prisoners of other countries but will be confined with negroes and given degrading treatment. Request Spanish Government to ascertain whether these reports are well founded and, if so, upon what grounds the German Government intends to adopt the attitude indicated.

59665-33- -2

LANSING

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