the question of food supplies being shipped from the United States to Russian prisoners of war in Germany. Since my memorandum of the 17th December was written, I have been in further communication with the Foreign Office, who state that they fully concur in the view expressed by the United States Government-that it is important to do nothing which might result in losing touch with Russia. The British Government, however, are doubtful whether the relations between Russia and the other Allies would be much improved by furnishing supplies for prisoners in Germany, as it is quite likely that under present conditions a proportion at least of such supplies may never reach the prisoners. It is agreed that it would be most undesirable to make any public announcement that the forwarding of supplies was prohibited, and it was only intended to suggest that further consignments might be withheld by means of private instructions to the Customs, or by some similar departmental action. The events of the past week seem to the British authorities to show that there is considerable danger in such consignments being made for the present, and the Russian Prisoners-of-War Help Committee in London is very shortly to bring its work to an end of its own initiative. A further consideration in this matter is that of the employment of Russian prisoners while in Germany. It is understood that some 750,000 of them are employed in the manufacture of munitions, a kind of labour which has always been resisted by prisoners from the other Allied armies. It is also believed that there is now an ample supply of corn in Russia, but that the peasants are unwilling to sell it. A report on this point was, it is believed, forwarded to the United States Government by the American Legation at Copenhagen on the 31st October last. In view of all these circumstances, the British Government think that it is hardly justifiable at the present crisis to allow food-stuffs to continue to go forward to Russians in Germany. In this connection I may add that we were informed some days ago that the War Trade Board were considering the question of granting an export license for 10,000 pairs of woolen hose and three cases of sole leather, to be consigned to the Y.M.C.A. at Copenhagen for the use of Russian and Roumanian prisoners of war in Germany. The British Government are quite prepared to authorize the issue of letters of assurance for such of the goods as are destined for Roumanian prisoners but, for the reasons indicated above, they Not printed. would prefer that export licenses should not be issued for goods for the Russian prisoners, if this can be arranged. Believe me [etc.] File No. 763.72114/3169 (For the Ambassador) COLVILLE BARCLAY The Counselor for the Department of State (Polk) to the Counselor of the British Embassy (Barclay) WASHINGTON, January 2, 1918. MY DEAR MR. BARCLAY: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 29, 1917, relative to the shipment of supplies to Russian and Roumanian prisoners of war in enemy countries. In reply I may state that I have recommended to the War Trade Board that in view of present conditions, any licenses which had been issued for the exportation of such supplies from the United States be revoked, and that none be issued in the future until the situation in Russia and Roumania as to separate peace is cleared up. In this connection I should add that within the past ten days, under a license granted by the War Trade Board to the Russian Red Cross at New York for the shipment of 2,000 tons of foodstuffs to Russian prisoners of war in Germany via Switzerland, 140 tons of flour are now on the Atlantic in transit. This came to my attention only a day or two ago, and the Department is now endeavoring to arrange with the Russian Embassy here, that the consignee at Berne will turn over the shipment to the American Red Cross upon its arrival at Berne.1 I am [etc.] FRANK L. POLK File No. 763.72114/3175 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] LONDON, January 12, 1918, 11 a. m. 8243. Foreign Office reports that in view of present undesirability of facilitating supplies for Russian prisoners of war in Germany, the suggestion has been made that British censor detain correspondence 'In a telegram of May 31, 1918, the Minister in Switzerland reported: "I have only lately ascertained that the whole shipment was sequestered by French Government either as consequence of instructions received from Washington or suggestion from French Embassy here." (File No. 811.142/3471.) contained in transit mail relating to provision of food or money for them. Government here rather doubtful whether such drastic action is desirable or necessary and would be glad to have your opinion on this point. PAGE File No. 763.72114/3175 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, January 14, 1918, 7 p. m. 6243. Your 8243, January 12, 11 a. m. Inasmuch as all licenses for shipments of supplies from the United States to Russian prisoners in Germany have been revoked for the present, the Department is inclined to believe that censorship mentioned unnecessary, at least as to correspondence emanating from the United States. LANSING File No. 763.72114/3250 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] LONDON, January 31, 1918, 2 p. m. 8455. Our 8243, January 12, 11 a. m. Your 6243, January 14, 7 p. m. Foreign Office, Prisoners-of-War Department, states your 6243 settles question of shipment of food to Russian prisoners of war in Germany satisfactorily, but would like information as to whether the same principle of licenses that you apply to food is applied to money transfers. Information would also be appreciated as to whether the British censorship should stop (a) correspondence from a neutral country to persons in the United States requesting that they take steps to have money and food forwarded from some neutral country to said prisoners of war; (b) correspondence from the United States to a neutral country sent for the same purpose. PAGE File No. 763.72114/3250 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, February 18, 1918, 5 p. m. 6609. Your 8455, January 31, 2 p. m. While the Department has not made public any statement regarding its negative attitude to wards relief of Russian prisoners in Germany in the present circumstances, it has requested the appropriate authorities not to grant licenses for the transmission of food, and has asked the Red Cross here, to which license had been granted for the transmission of funds for Allied prisoners in enemy countries, to discourage for the present any applications in favor of Russian prisoners. It is recommended that correspondence mentioned be detained. LANSING File No. 763.72114A/219 The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] BERNE, October 5, 1918, 3 p.m. 5057. For War Trade Board [from Dresel]: No. 205. Inter-Ally Commission of Berne has refused all applications, principally originating with Y.M.C.A. here, to send to Russian prisoners in Germany articles of any nature, including such as are used for religious services. I concur fully but at instance of Doctor Harte I request definite ruling from you on subject. Dresel. STOVALL File No. 763.72114A/219 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, October 17, 1918, 4 p. m. 3137. For Dresel [from War Trade Board]: No. 144. Replying Legation's 5057, October 5, 3 p. m., your 205. Board sustains action of A[llied] B[lockade] C[ommittee] in Paris [Berne] of refusing shipments for Y.M.C.A. into Germany for the use of Russians who were once prisoners but are now held there in duress. LANSING VI MILITARY SERVICE CONVENTIONS File No. 811.2222/947b The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Spring Rice)1 WASHINGTON, September 17, 1917. MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: In pursuance of Senate Resolution No. 108 of July 31 (calendar day August 1), 1917,2 I beg to enclose, as a basis for negotiations a preliminary draft of a proposed agreement between the United States and Great Britain relating to the conscription of the citizens or subjects of either of the contracting parties who may be residing within the territory of the other. I shall be glad to be informed at your early convenience as to whether this draft is acceptable to your Government as the proper form for a convention of this character or, providing your Government are prepared to conclude with the United States an agreement along these general lines, as to the nature of the changes or modifications which would be necessary in order to render it entirely acceptable. I am [etc.] ROBERT LANSING [Enclosure] Draft of Agreement ARTICLE 1. The United States and.. ----agree that each, after a declaration to the other of a desire to have its citizens or subjects residing within the territory of the other return for military service, may notify them to proceed to their own country for such service, or to report to any designated authorities of their own country who may be in the country of their residence. 1 The same, mutatis mutandis, on the same date, to the French, Italian, and Russian Ambassadors and the Belgian and Serbian Ministers. "Resolved, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to propose to all European nations engaged in war against the central powers of Europe and, if possible, secure from them an agreement authorizing and empowering the United States to apply the provisions of the act entitled 'An act to authorize the President to increase temporarily the Military Establishment of the United States,' approved May 18, 1917, to all such subjects and citizens domiciled in this country in the same manner and to the same effect as such provisions are applied to the citizens of the United States in selecting and raising an army or navy for service in the present war." |