125.0040/134: Telegram
The Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:42 p.m.]
816. American interests—Germany. Following received from Morris30 through Swiss channels.
“Bad Nauheim, February 14. For the Department from Morris. I desire to draw to the Department’s attention certain unsatisfactory conditions relative to our detention.
In general, purchases of food for this hotel have been based during the period of our detention here on an allotment amounting to one and a half times the normal German civilian ration. This allotment is insufficient. The ration provided for diplomatic personnel in Berlin is very considerably larger and at least double the ration received here. The theoretical ration is, however, not usually an exact criterion of the food received for the reason that supplies of allotted items are often simply not obtainable on the local markets, particularly in winter.
Formally meat is served at nine meals per week, although as will be seen below quantities are quite inadequate. The other five main meals are meatless and on 2 days a week no meat at all is served. No fresh eggs have ever been served, an omelet was provided for two meals during the first weeks and then ceased. On meatless days, poor quality fish was served on two or three occasions. Chicken or duck has recently been served about once a week for one meal. Unskimmed milk has been provided only for the children and persons unwell. Skimmed milk for substitute coffee only is served in small pitchers twice a day and further skimmed milk must be purchased at 50 pfennigs per glass.
Bread of fair quality is provided abundantly. 20 grams of butter per person are provided for breakfast with rolls, otherwise butter is almost never served. Fats are limited to an occasional small piece of sausage or cheese besides the breakfast butter and the limited amount of fats used in cooking. The food in general consists of soups mostly of a flour or thin meat stock and various combinations of starches consisting largely of potatoes together with a few ordinary coarse vegetables such as carrots, dry string beans, beets and cabbage, which are frequently frozen and soured. Sweets are provided in the form of puddings of indifferent composition, some of which have a rice basis, and others of which appeared to be of synthetic composition as well as the marmalade provided at breakfast and tea, at which times substitute tea and coffee, together with rolls, are also served.
The cooking is acceptable and the meat provided is good, but since the middle of January the portions served are totally inadequate, consisting always of one very thin slice of meat, and second helpings are not served. Twice a week the meal specified one of the so-called Feldküchengericht, or soldier’s field ration. This is a single dish [Page 320] usually composed of potatoes and cabbage with a very small piece of meat on top. This, together with the bread, is the whole meal. This civilian Feldküchengericht is admittedly smaller in calory content than that served to the troops, and civilians are asked to restrict themselves to it as a patriotic duty.
This ration has resulted in a marked reduction in weight, diminution of energy and deterioration of well-being throughout the group. It is not sufficient nor proper for persons accustomed to a substantial diet such as all of this group have been used to. The lack of adequate fats has been particularly unfortunate during the severe weather which has prevailed with temperatures frequently as low as 20 degrees centigrade. Fresh fruit has been served only twice since we arrived and compote and fresh salads very rarely.
In the latter part of January the attention of both the Swiss and the Foreign Office representatives resident at the hotel was invited to this unsatisfactory food situation. Some 2 weeks ago I was informed by the Swiss Legation that the Foreign Office had agreed to bring about an early improvement. This intended improvement was also confirmed to me orally by the Foreign Office representative here. It has not taken place.
We have never received any soap from the German authorities since we have been here; no arrangements have been made to enable us to buy soap locally; and people are unable to get their personal laundry done unless they furnish soap from their private stock. No pressing or ironing or shoe polishing services are provided, and persons are obliged to do their own work along these lines. We have existed on soap from our own canteen supplies, and we have to some extent been able to supplement our diet with a small amount of canned goods from the canteen. This has been only a stop-gap, and is in no sense a remedy. The German authorities have granted in some measure a request for extra rations for children, one pregnant woman and one man chronically ill. A request to resume the Embassy’s normal duty free importation from Denmark particularly of butter, bacon and eggs for the group at our own individual expense was declined, except for pregnant women and ill persons.
I have made a request in this sense through Swiss Legation, but only 14 persons including 6 children, will be benefited thereby. In the Public Health Surgeon’s opinion, there are many others who ought to have these extra rations.
I have not brought this situation to the attention of the Department sooner because (1) it could be tolerated over a short period in the expectation that our departure from Germany would occur and indeed if the exchange arrangements are to be completed within a week or so after the receipt of this telegram, the conditions complained of can be supported for that length of time; and (2) we have repeatedly been promised an improvement and wish to give the German authorities an opportunity to remedy conditions. If, on the contrary, a prolongation of our detention is inevitable for a longer period, a correction of the conditions complained of is required. This telegram is being sent with the agreement of the group house committees, composed of Embassy officials, Army, Navy, Public Health Service, the Chargé d’Affaires, the local authorities and American press representatives [Page 321] and has my complete concurrence as a reasonable, impartial, and factual statement of the conditions hereby brought to the Department’s attention.”
Swiss Foreign Office in forwarding states Swiss Legation Berlin emphasizes the fact that description by Mr. Morris of conditions at Bad Nauheim should not be considered as an invitation to Department of State to consider measures of reprisal against the official group detained at White Sulphur Springs. Minister Steiner adds that he has intervened to obtain amelioration of these conditions and he is certain that his efforts will bring results as far as this is possible. Difficulties of transport resulting from the unusual cold of this winter have influenced this matter and should be taken into consideration.
- Leland B. Morris, American Chargé in Germany.↩