Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1918, Supplement 2, The World War

File No. 763.72113/425

The Secretary of State to the Alien Property Custodian ( Palmer)

Washington, December 24, 1917.

Sir: I have your letter of December 22,¹ asking whether this Department sees any impropriety in demands being made by the Alien Property Custodian for property in this country belonging to German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Turkish consuls.

In reply I hasten to let you know that this Department deems it unwise for the Alien Property Custodian to make demands for property in this country belonging to persons who while in this country were official representatives of a foreign government.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:

William Phillips

Assistant Secretary

1. Not printed.