File No. 872.48/164

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall )

[Telegram]

1930. Your 3333, May 10, 6 p.m. While this Government is thoroughly alive to the sufferings of the heroic population of Serbia and is earnestly desirous of alleviating these sufferings, it can not undertake to permit the transmission of foodstuffs to Serbian territory occupied by Austria without effective guarantees that the native food products will be reserved to the Serbian population. Any uncontrolled augmentation thereof by importations to Serbia would be of assistance to the enemy. In the case of Belgium such guarantees were obtained from the German Government, but none that can be relied upon has yet been given by the enemies of Serbia. Her privations are due principally to the requisitioning of practically all her native foodstuffs by her enemies, as is borne out by the fact that Serbia is normally self-sustaining.

Lansing