File No. 763.72114A/107
The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18, 1.49 p.m.]
4330. Department’s 2431, August 12, 3 p.m. Have communicated with Spanish Embassy, Berlin, in the sense of Department’s telegram but did not mention Tuchel as I now learn almost all American prisoners have been taken from Tuchel and the majority of American prisoners now appear to be concentrated at Rastatt which is not far from Karlsruhe. I stated to Spanish Embassy in addition—
- (1)
- That Legation requested that camp at Rastatt be visited soon as possible by representative of Spanish Embassy;
- (2)
- That as Germany has officially stated that American prisoners were being interned at Tuchel, Legation cannot understand why they are being transferred to Rastatt;
- (3)
- That as the Government of the United States desires that American prisoners be interned in camps in interior of Germany, the American Legation trusts that Spanish Embassy will be able to arrange for internment of these prisoners in a good camp situated in interior of Germany.
Department is aware of unsatisfactory conditions at Tuchel and I would suggest that choice of permanent camps for American prisoners in Germany be considered at Berne conference.