enemy have proved entirely satisfactory to those Governments and have materially ameliorated the conditions of the British and French prisoners. Sincerely, W. PHILLIPS File No. 763.72114/3635a The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Willard) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, May 15, 1918, 4 p. m. 1126. Request Spanish Government to inquire whether German Government will be disposed to nominate delegates to hold a conference at Berne at an early date with American delegates for the purpose of concluding a reciprocal agreement covering matters pertaining to the maintenance, treatment, and exchange of prisoners of war, similar to conferences already held with representatives of British and French Governments, the American delegates to be announced and a date chosen after acceptance by German Government of this proposal. LANSING File No. 763.72114/3661 The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] BERNE, May 25, 1918, 11 a. m. 3461. Contents of Department's 1864, May 7, 5 p. m., were transmitted to Foreign Office and am today in receipt of a reply dated May 23, as follows in translation: Mr. Minister: It is with particular satisfaction we learn from Your Excellency's note of May 9 that the Government of the United States has conceived the idea of interning American soldiers in Switzerland who have been prisoners in Germany, in case such there are. It is hardly necessary to assure you that your compatriots would find the best welcome in Switzerland, for the authorities and all the population would congratulate themselves to be able to give under this form a new proof of their friendly sentiments to the great sister Republic, America. Your Excellency, who knows well the present economic difficulties of our country, will understand on the other hand that the number of Americans interned to be received will depend on essentially the general situation of Switzerland, as well as on the number of interned from other countries who may be on our territory at the time when the internment of Americans should start, but you can be sure that we will do everything in our power to conform to your desire in all cases. We are very touched with generous offer to put at times at our disposition provisions from the "American Prisoners Central Committee" which we would accept certainly with gratitude. To avoid all misunderstanding we believe, however, we must observe even now that this help from point of view of nourishment cannot be sent directly to interned Americans, the Swiss Government adopting the principle that the interned should be treated as far as concerns their rations in all foodstuffs on exactly the same footing as the Swiss population. We add that the competent Swiss authorities will be happy to lend their help for the nomination of Swiss doctors in an understanding with the German authorities for the repatriation or intern ment of American prisoners of war. Receive, etc., signed Calonder. STOVALL File No. 362.11/5334 The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] BERNE, May 29, 1918, 2 p. m. 3499. Legation's 3469, May 25.1 Certificate from Embassy's doctor, optical division, at Jaryour [sic], states in case of Corpl. Edward Roberts: Right eye entirely gone, left eye partially saved by hasty operation so that Roberts can now distinguish moving objects and persons. He is out of bed and in good health. To be given education for blind. As certificate states Roberts subject for repatriation, have asked Spanish Embassy, Berlin, to take steps to secure repatriation, although no agreement yet exists between two Governments. This only one case of several which are eligible for immediate repatriation. Recommend agreement this subject be arranged at the earliest practical moment. STOVALL File No. 362.11/5334 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, June 1, 1918, 6 p. m. 2019. Your 3499, May 29, 2 p. m. Your action regarding Corpl. Edward Roberts approved. Request Spanish Embassy, Berlin, to take similar steps in case of Thomas McCarthy at Guestrow in order 'Not printed. that he may undergo operation at home to save his sight. Report result. Further request Spanish Embassy to ascertain whether German Government would be disposed to enter into a provisional reciprocal agreement regarding repatriation or neutral internment of invalid prisoners, final agreement to be concluded at the conference between American and German delegates which this Government proposed to the German Government through Madrid on May 15, no reply to this proposal having yet been received in Washington. LANSING File No. 362.11/5374 The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] BERNE, June 6, 1918, 9 a. m. 3583. Department's 2019, June 1, 6 p. m. Your inquiry is being transmitted to Spanish Embassy at Berlin. I respectfully urge that definite proposals be immediately submitted to the German Government regarding repatriation and internment. STOVALL File No. 763.72114A/60 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, June 15, 1918, 2 p. m. 2101. Your 3583, June 6, 9 a. m. Request Spanish Embassy, Berlin, to inform German Government that Swiss Government has consented to intern in Switzerland such invalid American prisoners in Germany as may be eligible for internment in a neutral country by virtue of an informal agreement that may be entered into between the German and American Governments. Further state that Swiss Government has consented to appoint a medical commission to visit invalid American prisoners in Germany and to pass on their eligibility for internment in a neutral country or repatriation. Urge that German Government allow such a commission to visit Germany at the earliest possible moment, and state that this Government will be glad at any time to have a similar commission of neutral inspectors visit invalid German prisoners of war in the United States with a view to their repatriation or internment in a neutral country. You may state that a proposed schedule of disabilities is being forwarded by mail and that in its essentials it conforms closely to the schedule of disabilities recently agreed to by the British and Bulgarian Governments. Pending the conclusion of a more specific arrangement, ascertain whether German Government would consider the internment in Switzerland of such individual American prisoners as Hoyt Decker, Corpl. Edward Roberts, and Thomas McCarthy, whose cases would obviously come under any schedule of disabilities later agreed to. Add that this Government would consider favorably the internment in a neutral country of individual German prisoners in the United States who may be similarly incapacitated. LANSING File No. 763.72114/3734 The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] BERNE, June 19, 1918, 3 p. m. 3703. Spanish Embassy, Berlin, informs me that inquiry contained in Department's 2019, June 1, 6 p. m., was communicated to German Government on 8th instant. The Spanish Ambassador in a private conversation with the German Under Secretary of State was informed that the German Government are disposed in principle to enter into negotiations with United States Government concerning a proposed agreement regarding the exchange and internment of prisoners of war of the two countries. STOVALL File No. 763.72114/3734 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, June 22, 1918, 2 p. m. 2147. Your 3703, June 19, 3 p. m. Request Spanish Embassy, Berlin, to inform German Government that in view of its acceptance in principle of this Government's proposal that a conference be held in Berne concerning a proposed agreement regarding the maintenance, treatment, and exchange of prisoners of war of the two countries, this Government proposes that such a conference be held at Berne on August 5, 1918. Further request Spanish Embassy to ascertain at earliest possible moment whether this date is acceptable to German Government, and state that upon the receipt of the acceptance this Government will 59665-33- -6 make known to the German Government the delegates whom it proposes sending to the conference and will be ready to receive a similar statement on the part of the German Government. LANSING File No. 763.72114/3750 The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] BERNE, June 26, 1918, 8 p. m. 3786. Department's 2147, June 22, 2 p. m. My Spanish colleague has just handed me a telegram from the Spanish Ambassador in Berlin stating that he has received a note from the German Foreign Office to the effect that the German Government notes with satisfaction the proposal of the United States Government for a conference at Berne regarding prisoners of war and is willing to designate delegates. The German Government considers it of importance not to limit the discussion to prisoners of war but to extend it to civilians in the respective countries. It regrets not to be in position to fix exact date as it fears that the delegates who would take part in the conference will not be free until the end of August. In view of the above I have not communicated Department's 2147 to Berlin. STOVALL File No. 763.72114/3750 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, July 1, 1918, 2 p. m. 2211. Your 3786, June 26, 8 p. m. Request Spanish Ambassador, Berlin, to inform German Government that this Government will await a definite proposal from the German Government of a date for the prisoner-of-war conference and hopes that it may be arranged as soon as possible. LANSING File No. 763.72114/3765 The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, July 17, 1918, 6 p. m. 2304. Your 3822, June 30, 12 a. m.1 Request the good offices of the Swiss Government in assisting in coming conference. Ascertain 1 Not printed. |