§ 36. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War when it is expected safe conduct will be obtained to convey the 12,000 tons of parcels for prisoners of war at Götenburg to German ports.
§ Sir J. GriggA Swedish ship is about to sail with approximately 1,000 tons of supplies and the International Red Cross Committee are hoping to arrange for further shipments.
§ Sir A. KnoxAre these being transferred to Germany now?
§ Sir J. GriggI really do not understand the question. As I have said, a Swedish ship is about to sail with approximately 1,000 tons of supplies, I presume to Germany.
§ 37. Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether, as the Marseilles-Geneva railway is reported to be working again, transports with the 1,500,000 parcels accumulated at Lisbon have sailed from there to Marseilles.
§ Sir J. GriggI anticipate that sailings of Red Cross ships from Lisbon to Marseilles will be resumed at an early date. I am in touch with the military authorities at Marseilles with a view to restoring the full flow of prisoner of war supplies to Geneva as rapidly as the needs of the military situation will permit.
§ Sir A. KnoxBut what is the cause of this delay? There has been a definite shortage of parcels in Germany but railway transport has been open for some time.
§ Sir J. GriggI imagine that delay is caused by the volume of military traffic required to pass through the Port of Marseilles.