1164

1864

Jan. 17,

1918

[Rec'd

Jan. 19]

Jan. 26

From the Acting
Director of the Bu-
reau of Prisoner
Relief, American
Red Cross
To the American
Red Cross

ment with Germany, covering all questions on treatment of prisoners.

Necessity for arranging treaty with Germany before Red Cross can properly care for U.S. prisoners.

Draft of proposed arrangement for prisoner relief will be submitted to Germany through Spanish diplomatic

channels.

Switzerland

May 7 To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.)

May 9 From the Assistant Secretary of State

May 15 To the Ambassador in Spain (tel.) From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.)

1126

3461

May 25 [Rec'd May 27]

posed reciprocal arrangement regarding treatment and privileges of prisoners.

67

67

68

75

77

Switzerland is requested to 76 provide for internment of certain U.S. invalid prisoners captured by Germany. Direct conference with Germany recommended in order to bring about agreement. Spain is requested to inquire if Germans will meet U.S. delegates at Berne.

Quotes Swiss note, May 23, acceding to request for internment in Switzerland of U.S. invalid prisoners from Germany.

Case of Corp. Edward Rob-
erts. Repatriation has been
requested.

Proposal to Germany of pro-
visional agreement regarding
repatriation or neutral in-
ternment of invalid prisoners.
Case of Thomas McCarthy.
Urges definite proposals to
Germany regarding repatria-
tion and internment of invalid
prisoners.
Germany to be urged to permit
Swiss examination as to eligi-
bility of invalid prisoners for
neutral internment or repatri-
ation. Special cases.
Germany is disposed to enter
negotiations with the United
States for agreement regard-
ing exchange and internment
of prisoners.

Proposes date for conference
with Germany.
Germany not in position to fix
date for conference at Berne.

Request that Germany set date for conference as soon as possible.

Request that Swiss Government nominate national to preside over U.S.-German conference. Swiss Government will accept offer to preside over conference if Germany agrees. Request that Switzerland ascertain whether Germany is willing for Swiss national to preside over conference. Request that Germany be urged to make early decision as to date for proposed conference.

Germany suggests that conference take place the middle of September. Germany requests Swiss Government to preside over coming conference. Latter consents.

Personnel of U.S. commission to Berne conference. Instructions regarding negotiations with Germany.

Personnel of German commission to Berne conference. Determination to bring about equal and humane treatment of prisoners of war and interned civilians.

Question of U.S. responsibility for Germans in Cuba, Panama, etc., and German responsibility for Americans in Turkey.

Attitude regarding equal and humane treatment of prisoners is approved. Proposals relative to exchange and internment of prisoners on humane basis. Views requested. Summary of telegrams from Legations relative to treatment of Germans in certain Latin American countries. Feasibility of presenting to the conference the condition of Belgians and French in occupied territory, with view to amelioration. Instructions. Conditional approval given proposals relative to exchange and internment of prisoners.

No.

Date

From and to whom

Subject

Germany and Austria-Hungary notified that American Red Cross, Y.M.C.A., etc., are authorized U.S. relief societies.

First meeting of conference. Adjournment for separate deliberation on bases of agreement. Essential differences of respective proposals. Report on deliberations in second meeting of conference.

List of cases of injury to Americans in Turkey, of possible use as deterrent to German claims and threats. Agreement desired regarding treatment of Germans in U.S. Army, naturalized during the war, when taken prisoners by Germany, and the converse. Free hand for commission requested as to employment of exchanged and repatriated prisoners.

Free hand given commission as to employment of exchanged and repatriated prisoners. German proposal of U.S. declaration against internment or deportation of Germans in China; other proposals in conference.

Instructions regarding question of treatment of Germans in Cuba and Panama and of Americans in Turkey and Bulgaria.

German proposal with regard to internment or deportation of Germans in China not acceptable.

Further negotiations regarding release and repatriation of civilian prisoners. Commission desires to propose advance payment to officer prisoners.

Attitude toward proposed exchange of civilian prisoners.

Departure of German delegates to Berlin for instructions. Terms of proposed agreement with Germany for exchange of interned civilians. Germany will not accept provision recognizing as American citizens Germans captured by German forces if naturalized after Aug. 4, 1914.

From and to whom

Subject

No.

Date

Proposed U.S. declaration in conference: not present intention to transport to the United States prisoners subject to compulsory labor. German delegates acquiesce in certain clauses of agreement; other matters pending. Reply to suggested advance pay for officer prisoners; sec. 3648, Revised Statutes, quoted.

No objection to proposed declaration in conference regarding transport of German prisoners to the United States. U.S. position regarding treatment of Germans, naturalized in the United States during the war, who may be captured by Germany, and the converse. Treatment of prisoners of war, sanitary personnel, and civilians.

Instructions to inquire through Spain whether Austria-Hungary is disposed to agree to a conference to conclude agreement regarding prisoners of

war.

Austria-Hungary agrees to conference with the United States to conclude agreement regarding prisoners of war. Instructions for arranging date of proposed conference. Austria-Hungary requests that opening of conference be postponed.

Conference indefinitely postponed. Instructions.

From the Ambassador in Germany (tel.)

Minister

terpretive and supplementary agreement as to art. 23 of treaty of 1799 between the United States and Prussia.