File No. 763.72115/3367
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall)
2784. For Garrett:
Department in answer to suggestion received from Belgian Minister has informed him that if it proves feasible at the conference, the condition of the Belgian inhabitants of the territory occupied by Germany will be introduced into the discussions with a view of obtaining an improvement of their situation. Department accordingly instructs you to bear this matter in mind and also the condition of the French inhabitants of occupied territory, and to endeavor to obtain an amelioration of the situation of these Belgian and French inhabitants if in the judgment of the American commission it is advisable to do so. The Department prefers to leave the matter to discretion of commission.