851.5018/48: Telegram

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

730. My telegram No. 727, October 9, 10 p.m., and previous concerning foodstuffs. Rougiere of the League of Red Cross Societies at Geneva has arrived in Vichy from Marseille. He tells me that there is “no doubt in his mind” that the Germans are taking considerable food supplies out of unoccupied France. He has personally seen, he said, German officers at Marseille checking food and meat shipments arriving from Algeria. He feels the same is true of other points in unoccupied France. He could unfortunately give me no figures or estimates; in view of his natural interest, however, in seeing food [Page 553] shipments sent to France from overseas, I find his statements of some significance.

He says there is at present no important food shortage in the Marseille area and consequently some resentment at the present severe restrictions exists. There are other regions of unoccupied France however where there is a real dearth of food supplies and he mentioned particularly the Creuse and Lozere. While he is aware of the fact that the present severe rationing is a result of German pressure on the French authorities he believes that in any case it would have been necessary. In this connection the Department may have noted Marshal Pétain’s statement in his radio address last night: “The ration problem arose for the Government as a painful necessity. Rationing has been imposed upon us both by the severity of our defeat and by the will of the conqueror.”

Rougiere said that there is a French Red Cross ship, the Mendoza, loading at Buenos Aires with beef, wheat, coffee, corned beef, et cetera, the cargo of which is destined for French prisoners of war. He understands, however, that authority has not yet been obtained from the British for its passage through the Straits of Gibraltar.

As the Department is aware from the press the French Government is at present engaged in taking a census of livestock in France. This has created such fears among the peasantry lest it be preliminary to a requisition by the German or French authorities that in a number of villages the immediate slaughter of cattle, sheep, pigs, et cetera, has taken place. How extensive this premature slaughter is it is difficult to say but I am inclined to feel it has not been great.

Matthews