362.1154 Spiegelberg, Betty G./3

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Dodd)

No. 581

Sir: There is enclosed a copy of despatch No. 773, of February 13, 1936, received from the American Consul General at Munich, Germany, regarding the case of Mrs. Betty G. Spiegelberg, an American citizen who, it appears, has been deprived of the right to continue to act as a literary agent in Germany because of her Jewish descent.

You are requested to bring this case personally to the attention of the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs and to request that action be taken looking toward the continuance of Mrs. Spiegelberg’s activities. You should impress upon the Foreign Office the very great importance which this Government attaches to the case and the concern which it would feel at any attempt to differentiate between American citizens, depending upon their race or religion, in applying the terms of Article I, Paragraph 1, of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights of December 8, 1923.

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You should request the Foreign Office to take action in the manner that it deems best to bring about the satisfactory settlement of this case.

Please submit a report to the Department as to the results of your efforts in this matter.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
William Phillips