File No. 861.48/123
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received May 31, 12 p. m.]
3934. Have had conference to-day with Geheimrat Lewald representing Interior Department, Geheimrat Grunewalt representing [Page 897] Foreign Office, Prince Lubecki of Polish Committee, and Donovan and Stoever of Rockefeller Commission. Germany can not accept the proposition as made by England because—
First, Germany can contract only as to Polish territory in her own control. However, in my opinion there is no doubt but arrangement similar to one outlined below can be made with Austria. Please note that all towns named are in territory occupied by Germany.
Secondly, Germany can not make question of relief of Poland dependent on Germany and Austria relieving Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania, since Germany is not in control of those countries.
I think an arrangement [on] following lines can be made:
- (1)
- The arrangement to apply to all Polish territory occupied by Germany commencing 50 kilometers back of firing line.
- (2)
- Germany will give to inhabitants of cities to be relieved the ration proposed.
- (3)
- Germany will undertake the remainder of population outside will be fed.
- (4)
- It is necessary that occupying or police army of about 150,000 men be fed on food bought in Poland. These troops are sometimes 10 or 15 in a village and difficulties of transport make this necessary.
- (5)
- Proposition as to ships accepted.
- (6)
- Germany will arrange to pay for goods, wherever bought, and their transport.
- (7)
- Germany agrees to proposition that excess potatoes shall be exported only when commission agrees, and that no food is to be exported from Poland and used except as above stated. Provisions as to details of control can be arranged. Germany is willing to accept control as stated in contract signed by Geheimrat Lewald, Doctor Bicknell, and me in April 1915.
Will get details as to numbers of occupying police army and how many in towns and how many in country.
- Repeated, June 2, 1916, to the Ambassadors in Great Britain (No. 8388), France (No. 1542), and Russia (No. 847), with instructions to “ascertain and report attitude of government to which you are accredited on these questions.”↩