File No. 763.72114/3542
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 26, 7 a.m.]
3715. Your 3345, March 21, 4 p.m.2 Have just received answer from Foreign Office in regard thereto stating that in so far at least as applies to American citizens serving in French Army captured before United States declared war upon Germany, they should receive from the German Government similar treatment to prisoners of French nationality in accordance with article 17 of Convention V of The Hague dealing with rights and duties of neutral powers and persons. From the text of this article it results that an American citizen with rank of officer in the French Army should if taken prisoner receive the same pay as his comrades of French nationality.
[Page 29]As to the attitude of the French Government, the latter considers itself bound to give American citizens fighting in its armies and who may be captured the same assistance as to its own nationals, notably as regards supplies. However, should the German Government decide to consider some among them as American prisoners, as suggested in the Department’s telegram, it is to be feared that the said Government would deny them the benefit of the agreements reached by it with the French Government regarding the revictualling of prisoners of war, especially that of collective shipments of bread. Precise information on that point could doubtless be obtained through Spanish Embassy at Berlin if Federal Government will indicate the names of those American citizens regarding whom Germany has notified Washington. French Government might then, should Federal Government so desire, claim from German Government identical treatment for such prisoners to that of French prisoners of war.
Foreign Office adds that it would not object to American Red Cross in Switzerland assisting Americans captured while serving in French ranks. Text by mail.