File No. 3.5262/b
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain ( Willard)
215. Department’s 210, February 4, 5 p.m. [2 p.m.].2 Please state to Foreign Office that Department understands that many Spanish [Page 611] consular officers in Germany and Austria-Hungary are German or Austro-Hungarian subjects, or of German or Austro-Hungarian extraction, It is desired by this Government that the interests of this Government shall be entrusted only to those officers who are Spanish subjects by birth.
Please inquire of Foreign Office whether it would appoint, at the expense of this Government, if necessary, consular officers of the latter character to care for American interests in Germany and in case of a break also in Austria-Hungary.