File No. 763.72114/3909
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall )
2611. Your 4237, August 8, 11 a.m. Shipping Board will shortly assume financial relief of officers and crews of American merchant ships interned in Germany who are American citizens.
Shipping Board is considering extension of proposed relief to include interned officers and seamen of American merchant ships who are citizens of neutral countries. Interned officers and seamen who are citizens of Allied countries should be provided for by government of which they are nationals.
[Page 232]Red Cross food parcels are being sent to interned officers and seamen, unless otherwise provided for, irrespective of nationality.
Pending commencement of Shipping Board relief you may authorize Spanish Embassies, Berlin and Vienna, to include in financial relief interned officers and crews of American merchant ships of American or neutral nationality.