File No. 872.48/28
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11.45 p. m.]
3638. Your 2760, January 21. The consent of the British Government would depend, among other things, on the adequacy and efficiency of the machinery in Serbia for distributing food. Even with a large and very able staff of Americans in Belgium, the Germans have taken food meant for Belgians. Some of the Allied Governments are now asking Hoover to undertake distribution in Serbia and negotiations [Page 915] looking to this are pending. I am told that grain can be bought cheaper in Roumania than in the United States and the difficulties of shipping thus avoided. Besides the necessity of a large distributing organization in Serbia, the problem can not depend wholly on voluntary contributions. There must be large sums given by some Allied Government. All the food and money given in the United States since the war began to feed Belgians was enough for only three weeks.
The probability is that a distributing force in Serbia will soon be arranged here. I am sure the wise course to pursue is to wait until the pending negotiations to that end come to a head. If they are successful, the machinery will be ready for the Red Cross contribution. If they fail, the status of distributing machinery can be taken up without conflicting with the pending negotiations.