Geneva, July 31.
The French Government is preparing to appeal to the United States and other American nations for a large "food and fuel loan" on a long term credit basis, it was reported here yesterday without confirmation.
The decision was reported to have been reached by the government of Marshall Philippe Petain after an exhaustive survey showed that, without such assistance, hundreds of thousands of Frenchmen would be unable 1o survive the winter, which probably will be one of the hardest in the history of France, The French Government would lin connection with which preliminary conversations were understood to: have already been made. Although Ino definite conclusion was reached, it Iwas said the German authorities were inclined favourably towards such an undertaking, as Germany cannot be expected to supply all the foodstuffs necessary under the present circum-Istances.
The countries other than the United States with which France would be likely to carry out such negotiations would include Argentina, Uruguay, [Brazil and Columbia.
If the reported decision of the French Government is cartied out the United States, Argentina and Uruguay probably would be asked for immediate shipments of grain and meat, while the United States alone *likely
other fuels, would be asked for oil coal pud materials so obtained would be utilize pur- {ed for military purposes.
This would entail a separate agree-between France and Germany, Brazil and Columbia probably would be asked to make loans in terms of coffee, fruits and vegetable
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.