File No. 355.11/690
The Ambassador in Spain ( Willard ) to the Secretary of State
[Received midnight.]
641. Department’s 504, June 1, 4 p.m.,1 concerning detention of Americans in Germany. Spanish Ambassador at Berlin wires:
The German Government to the insistent and repeated demands made on the subject repeats that all desiring to leave Germany may do so after having secured the necessary permits and visas. The numerous formalities which the military authorities require and the [Page 174] slowness in carrying them out is the cause of the difficulties and delays experienced, and these are the same for Germans and neutrals. Minister of Foreign Affairs has again given instructions to competent authorities to hasten as much as possible the formalities and permits connected with departure of Americans.
Spanish Ambassador feels it his duty to call attention to the formalities and difficulties encountered by Germans desiring to leave United States and refers to the alarm caused in Germany by a note which it appears the Department of State sent to the Legation in Switzerland; that it is understood that only women and children are allowed to leave the United States; and on account of this fear the efforts of the Spanish Ambassador in behalf of departure of Americans are made difficult.
- Not printed; see Department’s telegram of May 21, supra. ↩