File No. 763.72114/3206
The Acting Director of the Bureau of Prisoner Relief of the American Red Cross ( Bowie) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 19.]
Sir: We beg leave to call the attention of the State Department to the fact that until some treaty is negotiated between America and Germany covering the treatment and care of American prisoners, it will not be possible for the American Red Cross—
- (1)
- To provide for the transmission of moneys to Americans held in Germany;
- (2)
- To make provision adequately assuring the supervision essential to a proper distribution of food supplies; and
- (3)
- To provide for communication between prisoners and their families.
We respectfully urge upon the attention of the State Department that, in order to permit the Red Cross to perform its proper function in protecting and providing for the care of American prisoners of war in Germany, it is essential that some treaty be negotiated either similar to that negotiated between Germany and Great Britain in November, 1917, or, if possible, a broader treaty similar to the Copenhagen conference of October and November, 1917, in which Germany, Austria-Hungary, Roumania, Russia, and Turkey participated.
Respectfully yours,