Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, General, Volume I

852.2221/907: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State

Paris, June 4, 1938—11 a.m.
[Received June 4—9:20 a.m.]

880. Department’s 330, June 1, 3 p.m.

1. Careful investigation by Consulates, Marseille and Bordeaux the results of which have been checked with the Bromfield Committee’s information indicates that problem of wounded American volunteers is not for the moment an extensive one. Investigation has turned up 24 incapacitated volunteers claiming American citizenship with the possibility that there may be four or five more in France whose identity and whereabouts remain very vague. Spanish authorities informed Thurston on May 29 that of the foreign volunteers thus far sent to France less than 25 were American. The Embassy is making arrangements with the French authorities to be advised by them of any new arrivals. Thurston will also endeavor to keep the Embassy informed of departures.

2. It appears that of the 24 listed cases most are being cared for by the French authorities. Seven of the men are in the American Hospital, Paris. It is anticipated that the volunteers now being looked after by the French will ultimately have to be cared for and repatriated through the combined efforts of the American Aid Society, the American Hospital and the Bromfield Committee. The latter has raised about 25,000 francs to date. It hopes to increase this amount considerably through a canvass which it is now making of some 1900 Americans in France.

3. The foregoing should not be permitted to obscure the fact that a large number of incapacitated American volunteers may reach France in the very near future and that the problem of meeting this contingency has by no means been solved. Vice Consuls Wallner and Moore of Barcelona who were in Perpignan a few days ago then estimated American wounded in Barcelona at about 200.

4. Frederick Thompson of the Bromfield Committee, who claims 5815 Third Street, San Francisco, as his home address and who some days ago talked as if he were a representative of the “Friends of Spanish Democracy,” and Sylvia Katz (see your 319, May 27, 6 p.m.⁵⁵) now deny any representative connection with the two organizations in America, to the attention of which you have brought the plight of the wounded volunteers.

5. I urge that the Department countermand its telegraphic instruction 126, March 2, 5 p.m.,⁵⁶ and that the Embassy be authorized to deal by telegraph with the passport angle of these cases and such other as may arise.

Bullitt

55. Not printed.
56. Not printed; it stated that in future the Department would not authorize new issue of passports telegraphically but would await receipt of applications and affidavits; this procedure was established to facilitate delivery to Consul General at Barcelona of passports taken from American volunteers. (130 Sovetski, Bunni)