File No. 763.72/1501
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 25, 9 p. m.]
1680. Referring to your propositions in identic note.1 From private information think Germany inclined to accept but will probably want raw material to enter as well as food for civil population. Copper may be subject of contention but there is ample copper here for war purposes and it is only needed for manufactures. There will also be objection to agents of American Government superintending food distribution as this might involve some surrender of sovereignty but this can be obviated by creation of an American commission or something of sort similar to Belgian or one proposed for Poland and of which I could be chairman personally and not officially.