File No. 763.72114/3507
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 13, 12.45 a.m.]
3587. Your 3043, January 8.1 Foreign Office note today states that in compliance with the universal postal convention, article 2 [Page 28] [11], paragraph 4, and different articles signed at Rome, May 26, 1916 [1906], French Postal Administration already allows transmission postage free of nonregistered mail of every description, letters of declared value, of postal orders to or from prisoners of war comprising interned civilians, notwithstanding origin or destination of despatches, whether belligerent, Allied or neutral countries. This regulation naturally applies to mail matter from or to United States. Regarding parcel-post packages Foreign Office refers to its letter transmitted in my telegram 3020, January 11.1 To facilitate task of French postal service Ministry suggest that American Post Office forward mail matter for prisoners interned in enemy countries in special sacks addressed either to the French bureau at Pontarlier, “Service des Prisonniers de Guerre,” or to a Swiss bureau which would be designated by mutual agreement between the two Federal Administrations, American and Swiss. Swiss office would also be requested to forward in special sacks to the French bureau mail addressed by prisoners to United States. Text letter by mail together with a note annexed thereto giving full details regarding postal service for prisoners of war as carried out in France pursuant to agreements reached with Swiss office acting as intermediary and indications from German office.