File No. 763.72114/3056

The Secretary of State to the Serbian Minister ( Michaïlovitch )

No. 65

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note of November 21, 1917, concerning the amelioration of the condition of Serbian prisoners of war in Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria, copy of which has been sent to the American National Red Cross for its consideration. You therein state that the Serbian Government has contemplated offering the enemy an exchange of sound prisoners, perhaps with the provision that they be interned, deeming this the only alternative to save the Serbian prisoners from continual starvation. You state further that your Government would highly appreciate it if the United States Government would approve the proposal that the American Red Cross take completely into its hands the provisioning of Serbian prisoners in the countries mentioned above.

With regard to the contemplated exchange of sound prisoners of war by the Serbian Government and its enemies, I have the honor to inform you that this Government, in principle, cannot view with approval any augmentation of the enemy forces which such an exchange would effect. With regard, however, to the request that the American Red Cross entirely provision Serbian prisoners in enemy countries, I beg to state that the Red Cross, as well as this Government, is most sympathetic to the proposal and I may assure you that if practical details can be solved the request of your Government will have my support.

Accept [etc.]

Robert Lansing