File No. 763.72114A/202
The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 30, 5.30 a.m.]
12. [From Garrett]:
The conference met again yesterday afternoon after two days’ study and comparison of the charges [various?] respective bases exchanged on Tuesday by the opposing delegations. The Germans accepted in principle all the articles submitted by us except perhaps the submarine clause which they stated could not be accepted by Germany as drawn up by us, but they said they would bring one in later for our consideration. We accepted in previous notes all the articles [Page 93] submitted by Germany with the exception of those covering the three points mentioned in my telegram No. 10, September 25. We submitted counter-proposals for exchange and repatriation of valid prisoners of war in line with your telegram No. 2789, September 25, and a proposition covering the internment of officers in a neutral state. We also submitted a proposition extending to civilians interned the same treatment as that provided for combatant prisoners, restricting their employment and calling for the repatriation head for head and rank for rank of such of them as are officers or members of the crews of merchant ships.
In regard to the German proposal that the United States will do all in its power to the end that the Germans interned in Panama and Cuba shall be set free and at their wish repatriated, would it meet with your views if we should say to the Germans that we would undertake to suggest to you the advisability of suggesting to the Governments of Cuba and Panama that all German civilians be treated in accordance with such agreement as may be reached between the United States and Germany, the German delegates at the same time undertaking to advise their Government similarly in regard to Americans in Turkey and Bulgaria?
The comparison and editing of the articles about which there seems less ground for difference of opinion is now being done by a subcommittee of the two delegations. It is expected that this will take several days. The main committee will probably not meet until the results of the labor of the subcommittee have been put into shape. Garrett.