Office of the Historian

File No. 763.72114/2989

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland ( Wilson)

[Telegram]
Washington, November 21, 1917.

1143. Your 1921, October 25. French Foreign Office states French Line taking necessary measures to ensure according to its means transportation postal packages for prisoners of war between the United States and Germany, parcels forwarded from the United States to prisoners to be contained in special bundles and to be accompanied by special waybills so as to avoid confusion with commercial parcel post. A specimen of waybill will shortly be submitted to French Government. Have requested French Government to inform Director Berne Post Office of its formal acquiescence to this project for the free transmission of parcels. If French Embassy Berne is not soon instructed by its Government, please request Ambassador to inquire in order that the system may be put into early operation. Presume that Swiss Government will arrange matters with Germany. Reply.

Lansing

[For plans of the War Department for employment of prisoners of war see letter of November 23, 1917, and Department’s reply of December 4, post, pages 183, 185.]