852.48/225
The Secretary of State to the Spanish Ambassador (De los Rios)
Excellency: The information which the Department of State has furnished the American Red Cross during the past few weeks indicating a growing problem of human misery in many parts of Spain because of insufficient food for the civilian population, particularly women and children, was presented to the Executive Committee of the American Red Cross yesterday. I now have the honor to inform Your Excellency that to help meet this situation, the Committee authorized an appropriation to finance the shipment to Spain of flour to be milled from Government wheat up to a total of 250,000 bushels under a plan which provides for the cooperation of the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, the United States Maritime Commission, the American Friends Service Committee, and the American Red Cross.
It is the desire of the American Red Cross to extend the benefits of this plan to distressed civilians, particularly women and children, in proportion to their need wherever they may be in Spain. On behalf of the American Red Cross I am writing to inquire whether this offer is acceptable to Your Excellency’s Government and whether it would be willing to cooperate with the American Friends Service Committee in the transshipment of the flour from France and its distribution in Spain.
I shall be most happy to transmit your reply to the American Red Cross, and suggest that thereafter questions of detail be worked out directly between Your Excellency and the Chairman of the American Red Cross.
Accept [etc.]