File No. 763.72114/2738a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain ( Willard)
524. Paraphrase for Berlin. Please ask Foreign Office to state intentions of German Government in regard to the pay of American naval and military officers who may be taken prisoners of war by German forces.
Please state to Foreign Office that, if the German Government will agree to take action on a reciprocal basis, this Government will grant to all German naval and military officers taken prisoners of war the same rate of pay as officers of corresponding rank in the United States Army. The money thus paid out will be entered as a charge against the German Government which will agree ultimately to refund such payments. Please cable reply of German Government as soon as possible.