862t.01/129: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:48 p.m.]
1325. Your telegrams 1106 of June 12 and 1115 of June 15.41 It is reported by General Allen that there are at present in occupied Germany regiments of Malgaches, Zouaves, Moroccans and Algerians, but no Senegalese. I am informed that the Malgaches are from Madagascar, Malays, mixed blacks; the Zouaves are special infantry regiments, not negroes; the Moroccan regiments are composed of Arabs, Mahomedans not negroes; the Algerian troops are composed of natives of Algeria of French Arab and French stock, some Mahomedans not negroes. The Senegalese are negroes.
I am informed by Dresel that papers of all shades of political opinion are carrying on the agitation against black troops, that Germany has formally protested to France, that all classes of men [Page 330] have been sending in complaints, that the press feels the United States should understand the situation because of our negro problem and claim[s] that there have been assaults on German women but that the facts cannot be checked, and that deep irritation of people in Frankfort and vicinity at use of black troops is reported by Consul Wood.41 However, these have been withdrawn.
On several occasions French newspapers have denied stories carried in the German press but I have not seen an official denial and cannot find any in the newspapers.
Minister of War Lefevre on June 17 in the Chamber made the following statement in reference to the Army budget and future of the black troops: “I cannot allow our black troops to be brought into the disrepute they are seeking, on the other side of the Rhine, to inflict upon them”.
I would consider it but a friendly act to state to Millerand that the Department is receiving many letters and telegrams of protest and that the French Government may be interested to know that the reports are persistent, have a harmful effect on public opinion and are not refuted fully.