File No. 763.72111/6938
The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 16, 6.48 p.m.]
3075. My despatch 2546 of March 5. Please instruct whether I shall accede to request French Ambassador to associate this Legation with French Embassy and other Allied legations in note prepared by French Embassy to Swiss Political Department of which following is summary: Notice is taken of principle of inviolability of consular archives stated by Swiss note February 28. French Embassy insists particularly on right of free communication protected by professional secrecy between consular representatives and authorities upon whom they depend and states acts performed by agents of consulates general and vice consulates in performance of their duties do not come within the jurisdiction, administrative or judicial, of state [Page 1807] in which these agents reside. Consular agents are responsible for these acts only to government which they serve. Interference on the part of another government seems incompatible with international courtesy and would “constitute in itself an infraction of international law of a nature to make legitimate on the part of the French Government the application of analogous measures.” French Embassy indicates its hope such eventuality unlikely and that Swiss Political Department will give same interpretation as French Embassy to subject of consular immunities.