File No. 763.72114/3909

The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

4237. Department’s 2371, July 31, 7 p.m.2 I have requested Spanish Embassy, Berlin, to pay weekly allowance of 5 marks to interned American civilians in need who are actually American citizens.

Will Department please instruct me of attitude which should be adopted towards [officers and] crews of American merchant ships now interned in Germany who are not American citizens, or who claim American citizenship on insufficient grounds, both as regards relief in food parcels by Red Cross and financial relief from Spanish Embassy.

I am of opinion that these persons deserve consideration if they were taken prisoners from American merchant ship[s].

Stovall
  1. Not printed.