352.1115/136: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Vigo (Corcoran)
Your July 27, 1 p.m.67 The Cayuga with Ambassador Bowers aboard is proceeding starting July 28 along the north coast of Spain to Vigo, evacuating any Americans found at points along the coast.68 I am not, of course, in a position here to judge the immediate situation in your district or at your post and I must therefore leave very much to your discretion the question of whether your office should be closed prior to the arrival at Vigo of the Cayuga. I do feel, depending of course on the judgment of the officers concerned, that in order to [Page 649] reduce the number of persons subject to danger, it would be well for the families of all our officers to be evacuated if and when opportunity presents. So far as I can determine, there may still be Americans inland who have not been able to reach any point from which they might be evacuated. So long as there appears to be likelihood that officers can render assistance to any of these nationals who may be stranded inland, it seems to me that our Consulates should be kept functioning. I do not expect, of course, that any officer should uselessly risk his life in order that his Consulate be kept open. If the continued maintenance of your office subjects you to useless risk and you feel you can be of no further service to Americans who may be in your district, you have my authority to close your office. Due provisions should be made for the safeguarding or destruction of codes, seals, confidential archives and so forth.