File No. 654.119/250
The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 14, 3.24 a.m.]
3344. Following is a summary of communiqué issued by German Legation 10th instant replying to Legation’s communiqué concerning wheat shipments: [Page 1622]
American communiqué indicates refusal of United States to facilitate provisioning of Switzerland. Germany issued immediate orders to naval forces to respect safe conducts, therefore the American statement that Germany blockades Switzerland for three months falsifies sense and meaning of German-Swiss agreement. America refuses to adhere to facilities of transport consented to by Germany and exposes transport of wheat to danger without any reason; briefly, America does not wish to supply Switzerland.
German communiqué was very long and received scant attention in Swiss press. Journal de Genève says: “German [omission] will not alter gratitude of Swiss people toward American Government.” Gazette de Lausanne points out that German Legation seems to forget it is addressing a people endowed with some intelligence. Berner Bund believes in sincerity and good will of American Government but feels submarine danger after German-Swiss agreement reduced to negligible minimum.