File No. 811.142/1399
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19, 8.30 p. m.]
3502. Department’s 2698, February 12 [11]. Germany produces about two thirds of the quantity of milk which it consumes and imports remainder from neighboring countries. In normal years imports are about four times exports. Following figures show Germany’s foreign milk trade between years 1912 and 1913:
Total value of imports:
| 1912 | $[1],500,828 |
| 1913 | $1,144,066 |
Total quantity in metric tons:
| 1912 | 43,027 |
| 1913 | 32,789 |
The imports in metric tons for neighboring countries were as follows:
| 1913 | 1912 | |
| Denmark | 1,987 | 11,890 |
| France | 5,374 | 5,445 |
| Austria-Hungary | 5,080 | 4,536 |
| Russia | 3,989 | 3,753 |
| Switzerland | 16,189 | 14,252 |
Only country to which Germany exports any considerable amount of milk is Austria-Hungary. In 1913, exports to Austria-Hungary, 11,573 [metric tons]; in 1912, 10,820. Chief domestic sources of milk are East Prussia, Silesia, German Holstein, and parts of Saxony.