Secretary of State,
Washington:
Gen. Allen reports that there are at present in occupied Germany regiments of Moroccans, Algerians, Zouaves, and Malgaches, but no Senegalese. According to my understanding the Algerian troops comprise natives of Algeria of French and French Arab stock, and some Mahomedans, not Negroes. The Moroccan regiments comprise Arabs and Mahomedans, not Negroes. The Malgaches are Malays from Madagascar, and the Zouaves are special infantry regiments, not Negroes.
Mixed blacks. Senegalese are Negroes.
The American commissioner states that agitation against the black troops is carried on by papers of all political opinions, that the German Government has formally protested to the French Government, that complaints have come from men of all classes, that the papers claim that America should understand the situation on account of our Negro question and charge that assaults have been made on German women, but that the facts can not be checked and that the American consul reported deep anger of population of Frankfort and vicinity over use of black troops. These troops have been withdrawn. French newspapers have denied German press reports on several occasions, but I have seen no official denial in the press or elsewhere.
Minister of War Lefevre, speaking in the chamber on June 17 regarding the army budget and the future of the French black troops, stated: “As for our black troops, we shall not tolerate the interested criticisms which are being made on the other side of the Rhine.”
It is my belief that it would be a friendly act to inform Millerand that department is receiving many telegrams and letters of protest and that it may interest the French Government to know that the persistent reports are not fully refuted and are having a harmful effect upon public opinion.
Wallace.
Appendix III.
Paris, July 22, 1920.