124.63/103b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Wilson)
34. On March 21, 1938, the following formal note was sent to the German Ambassador:
“Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your notes dated March 1496 and March 16, 1938,97 respectively, quoting a German law of March 13, 1938 and referring to the status of the Austrian Minister and the Austrian Legation in Washington. I have taken note of the contents of these communications.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
Signed: Cordell Hull”
Please address a formal note to the German Foreign Minister as follows:
“Excellency: I am directed by my Government to inform Your Excellency as follows:
On March 17, 1938, the Minister of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Edgar Prochnik, informed the Department of State that, as a result of the developments which had occurred in Austria, that country had ceased to exist as an independent nation and had been incorporated in the German Reich; that therefore the Austrian mission to this country, of which he had been the head, had been abolished; and that the affairs of the mission had been taken over by the Embassy of Germany. The German Ambassador has informed the Department of State that he has assumed the functions hitherto performed by the Minister of Austria.
The Government of the United States finds itself under the necessity as a practical measure of closing its Legation at Vienna, and of establishing a Consulate General. In the circumstances I am directed by my Government to request provisional consular status for Mr. John C. Wiley, Consul General; Mr. John H. Morgan and Mr. John H. Lord, Consuls, and Mr. G. Frederick Reinhardt and Mr. Thomas R. Flack, Vice Consuls.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.”
We plan to give text to the press at 1 p.m. Washington time April 6th.
Please repeat to Vienna for information.