File No. 860c.48/153
The British Chargé ( Barclay) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 1.]
Sir: I have the honour to inform you, by direction of my Government, that a request has been made for facilities for the monthly despatch of one carload (approximately 20 tons) of condensed milk to Poland. It is proposed to send the milk, which would be provided as a gift from the American Red Cross, from Switzerland to Warsaw for distribution among the children of that city and Lodz.
His Majesty’s Government are unable to regard this proposal favourably, since they consider that, so long as Poland is occupied by the enemy and its resources are utilized by them, the enemy would receive direct or indirect benefit by being relieved of a portion of their obligations towards the population of that country.
Also, in view of the fact that it would be necessary for any supplies sent to pass through enemy territory, and that it would be useless to attempt to obtain any satisfactory guarantees from the enemy that such supplies would not be requisitioned or diverted, His Majesty’s Government think it most improbable that the milk would reach the persons for whom it was intended.
I am directed to enquire whether the United States Government are in agreement with the attitude of His Majesty’s Government towards this proposal.
His Majesty’s Government are also enquiring the views of the French and Italian Governments on the subject.
I have [etc.]