File No. 861.48/162
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 30, 6.30 p. m.]
4171. Department’s circular July 7.1 Foreign Office replies as follows:
From the very beginning the Imperial Government declared its readiness to offer its assistance in order that the distress apparent in those parts of Russia which are occupied by German troops and systematically wasted and deprived of all victuals for the use of the remaining inhabitants by the retreating Russian hosts be eased by the relief work of the United States of America which is organized on such a great scale. The Imperial Government has particularly offered all guarantees consistent with the requirements of war that the imported foodstuffs will only serve the needs of the population of the territory occupied. Accordingly the American relief might have been realized several months ago with the same provisions as in northern France had not the Government of Great Britain prevented its accomplishment by clinging to its unfounded and impracticable conditions. In this way it has become practically impossible to convey a considerable amount of foodstuffs from America to Poland by the expiration of the term set as the end of the relief work, i. e., October 1. Accordingly further negotiations are devoid of purpose. But on the other hand, thanks to the intense cultivation of the land effected by the Imperial Government by using all the means available and every effort possible in the occupied territory, and owing to the favorable harvest prospects, a relief action after October 1, 1916, can apparently be dispensed with. The fact that the population of Poland and Lithuania will to some extent suffer until the new crop is lodged, and later on, too, will sometimes have to put up with straitened circumstances, can therefore not be laid to the blame of the Imperial Government but to that of Great Britain.