File No. 855.48/618
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12.40 p.m.]
6898. For Hoover2 [from Relief Commission]:
C[ommission for] R[elief in] B[elgium] 21. If most desperate situation Belgium and France is to be avoided combined with discredit relief and American protection, wiping out effect last 2½ years, must have immediately effective August allotted relief minimum average 60,000 tons additional cargo capacity. Have made insistent demand British Government which is approved. Insisted upon by Belgian and French Governments that this tonnage be turned over by Allied Governments to us at once. When pending arrangements with Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish result additional charters, corresponding tonnage can be returned to Allies. This course has approval important members British Government, but will fail unless strongly indorsed from United States. Relief Commission.
- Herbert C. Hoover continued to occupy the position of Chairman of the Commission for Relief in Belgium after his return to the United States to assume the duties of Food Administrator in June, 1917.↩