File No. 763.72115/3135

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

[Telegram]

911. Spanish Minister, Berne, transmits me following telegram received from Spanish Ambassador, Vienna:

Your note April 20 relative proposed agreement between American and Austro-Hungarian Governments for repatriation American citizens in Dual Monarchy and Austrian and Hungarian subjects in the United States.1 Ministry Foreign Affairs in note dated May 7 states Austro-Hungarian Government prepared to eliminate clause restricting time of departure to four weeks after rupture of relations and to authorize departure of Americans without restriction as to time, provided that the American Government expressly declares itself prepared to permit all Austrians and Hungarians—except those falling within categories mentioned in paragraph 3 of proposed agreement—to depart from the United States in any direction whatsoever. Upon same conditions of reciprocity, Imperial and Royal Government prepared to eliminate paragraph 2 and to add to end of paragraph 3 the words “or a menace to the national safety.” [Page 250] Copy of note by mail. Telegraphic reply requested. Castro, Ambassador.

Stovall
  1. See telegram to the Minister in Switzerland, Apr. 16, 1917, ante, p. 245.