File No. 763.72114/3425
The Minister in the Netherlands (Garrett) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10.34 p.m.]
2209. A committee of Dutch and American men and women has been recently formed in Amsterdam for the purpose of sending food to American prisoners in Germany. Prospective shortage of food supplies in Holland leads committee to ask you whether arrangements [Page 27] could be made for the supply of necessary things from the United States, the committee to bear all expense including purchase of supplies in the United States. Although they are aware that effective arrangements exist at Berne for supplying American prisoners, they claim that things can be gotten in sometimes quicker from Holland. Moreover, just at this moment when friendship for us is a heavy burden in Holland, it would seem unwise not to encourage in any way we can so fine an initiative as this. I ask your consideration, therefore, of the possibility of sending a few tons of supplies on the New Amsterdam consigned to the American section of the international work for prisoners of war, Amsterdam, or to this Legation. The committee especially desires rice, bacon, soap, coffee, and condensed milk.