851.01/112: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

[Extract]

311.

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Baudouin5 said also that the German Government had yesterday assumed the obligation not to requisition any food supplies imported for French civilians from non-belligerent countries. He said that it is most distressing that an artificial distinction is being built up in the United States between Frenchmen needing relief in the occupied and non-occupied zones. The French Government, Baudouin said, would prefer to see the entire French population reduced to a common state of starvation rather than to feed those in the south and neglect those in occupied territory. Aside from the humanities involved such discrimination if admitted by the French Government would be for obvious reasons a political error of the first magnitude. He hoped that the Americas (the Argentine Ambassador was also present) would understand the problem and cooperate in aiding France effectively.

Murphy
  1. French Minister for Foreign Affairs.