Appendix I.
June 12, 1920.
American Embassy, Paris:
Department is receiving telegrams and letters protesting against the use of African troops in occupied Germany by the French. Please give your views as to the truth of the accusations being made against the behavior of these troops and whether you believe these accusations are well founded. Advise department what you deem advisable in the way of representations to the French Government on this subject. It is not department’s desire to lend too credulous an ear to these sensational reports and yet it may be of interest to the French Government to know that such reports are being persistently circulated and that they are having a harmful effect on public opinion, not being fully refuted.
Colby.