File No. 763.72/3585
The Minister in Sweden ( Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 24, 3 a.m.]
250. From German press, March 21. Herr von Batocki summing up the results of a conference of war distribution authorities and [Page 76] workmen’s representatives said former are convinced of necessity of a stricter and severer rationing and distribution but everything being done to insure the feeding of the working classes. The fact must not be concealed however that provisions have become extremely scarce and production has great difficulties to contend with and that further scarcity must be expected.
Captain Persius in Berliner Tageblatt says by arming merchant Vessels America renounces armed neutrality and resorts to armed force as no difference between an armed merchant vessel and a warship.