JANUARY 31, 1921. Hon. STEPHEN G. PORTER, _House of Representatives_. SIR: Referring to my letter of January 17, 1921, concerning the propaganda being carried on as to the conduct of the French black troops in the occupied territory of Germany, I have the honor to inclose for your information a paraphrase of a telegram received from the American ambassador in Paris giving the official statement as to the number and origin of the French troops of occupation at the present time. I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, BAINBRIDGE COLBY. [Telegram from American Ambassador at Paris, Jan. 29, 1921.] The total number of troops in the French Army of occupation was 86,000 in December; 16,386 of this number were Moroccans and Algerians and 3,224 were Malgaches. The remainder were white. The figures for January are approximately the same. Properly speaking, there are no black troops. The Moroccans and Algerians are Arabs of the Mussulman religion and are entirely distinct from the Negro race. The Malagaches are Malays from Madagascar. Incidents occurring between these colored troops and the natives of the occupied district, and which have been investigated by French military authorities, have been in the proportion of 1 to 1,594 men. About one-fourth of such cases have resulted in condemnations of from 30 days to 10 years’ imprisonment, according to the gravity of the charge. The remaining cases have been dismissed on account of inability to substantiate charges or because of a lack of good faith on the part of German authorities who brought charges. The French Government has made no attempt to officially disprove the accusations concerning the behavior of the troops. It has, however, unofficially supplied facts and figures through its press agencies to various countries. So far as I am able to ascertain, the recent behavior of these troops has been on an average with the conditions above reported. The delay on the part of the foreign office in supplying this information after several requests was not due to lack of interest, but to difficulty in obtaining figures. That office has promised further information within a few days, which I shall forward as soon as it is received. WALLACE. FEBRUARY 11, 1921. Hon. STEPHEN G. PORTER, _House of Representatives_.