File No. 763.72114/3065
The Secretary of State to the Swiss Minister ( Sulzer )
Sir: In view of the telegraphic information received from the Spanish Embassy in Berlin, in charge of American interests in Germany, to the effect that the official prison camp inspectors of the Embassy are not permitted to converse with American prisoners without witness, I regret to have to inform you that hereafter, in conducting inspections of camps or stations where German prisoners are interned in the United States, representatives of the Legation of Switzerland, in charge of German interests in the United States, can not be allowed the privilege of speaking to such prisoners except in the presence of American officials, until the German Government shall have agreed to reciprocity in permitting such conversations without witnesses.
I shall be glad if you will be good enough to inform the German Government to this effect, and if you will state that this Government has hitherto raised no objection to the representatives of your Legation speaking with German prisoners out of hearing of the guards.
Accept [etc.]