Paris Peace Conf. 840.48/10: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
172. For Polk for Sherley. Your 138. Have following telegram January third from Polish Government Warsaw.
“In view of the famine in Lithuania, Silesia and Lwow in order to satisfy the minimum needs of the indigent population of all Poland with Lithuania [and?] Silesia 60,000 tons of flour are needed immediately. There is a need of 45,000 tons of flour per month in January and February and 30,000 tons of flour per month in March, April, May, June and July a total need of 300,000 tons of flour. The below given indicated quantities must be comprised in the monthly needs. The duration of these monthly needs comprises 8 months that is beginning with January until month of August inclusively. 6,750 tons of peas kidney beans and oatmeal, 5,625 tons of sugar, 1,875 tons of rice, 8,400 tons of preserved meat. Above all lard. 2,250 tons of fish and herring, 600 tons of condensed milk, 15 tons of cheese. 180 tons of butter, 600 tons of vegetable and animal fats, 375 tons of tea, 90 tons of cocoa, 30 tons of pepper, 15 tons of saltpeter. In view of complete exhaustion of all storage there is a need of clothing shoes and underwear for 10,000 inhabitants counting per person a pair of shoes 3 meters of material for clothing and 6 meters of linen. There [Page 717] is a need of medicines and bandages we will communicate to you on occasion the great necessary quantity of same. For the transport of the above-mentioned cargoes of the ports of Gdansk, Krolewiec and Libawa 3,300 covered wagons and 110 locomotives are necessary. It is indispensable to give up as soon as possible to the Polish Government the railroads with rolling stock; Gdansk-Mlawa, Gdansk-Torun, Libawa-Bialystok. Communication with the White Russian Regions of Lithuania and Podlasie is impossible in view of the fact they are still invaded by the Germans who clear the country of the last reserves and the Bolsheviks massacre the population. [”]