360F.1115/3: Telegram
The Minister in Czechoslovakia (Carr) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 22—1:10 p.m.]
219. Your numbers 62 and 63, September 15 and 19.59 British Legation is informing British inquirers through the several British Consulates that the situation is critical and that they should be prepared to leave as soon as possible. This they are doing orally after British subjects have first been summoned to the Consulates “to complete registration records”; we cannot follow like method because of having only one Consulate in the country and the large number of Americans scattered over the whole of Czechoslovakia.
The Consulate General has confidentially inquired of the Ministry of Railways as to train facilities for American citizens in case of emergency and has been told that no assurances can be given in such an event that train transportation from Praha to any border could be maintained. In case of war international trains would cease to run and domestic trains would either be partially maintained or completely stopped. Consul General and I are of the opinion that with troop movements the latter would be of little avail. British Legation has had similar results from its inquiries in relation to transportation.
In view of the rapidly increasing seriousness of the situation and practical impossibility of leaving Czechoslovakia in case of possible hostilities on all frontiers I feel that all American nationals here are entitled to some notification without further delay of the importance of arranging to leave the country promptly. Consul General on my instructions has ready for immediate mailing the following circular to American citizens on record in his office:
“Conditions here are such that at any time it may become impossible for American citizens to leave the country. It is therefore of [Page 636] the utmost importance that every American citizen should take steps without delay to insure his own safety by being prepared for immediate departure. While American citizens must reach their own decisions the Consulate General emphasizes the great risk which would be run by remaining and that Americans who insist upon remaining do so on their own responsibility.”
If situation should become worse during the day I propose to have the circular mailed unless I am instructed to the contrary.60
- No. 63, September 19, not printed.↩
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The Department telegraphed the Minister on September 22 (telegram No. 66, 5 p.m.) that his action was approved, and on September 23 the Minister informed the Department (telegram No. 225, 1 p.m.), that Americans were being notified (360F.1115/3, 6).
The Department authorized the Minister in Hungary to take similar action, at his discretion, with respect to Americans in Budapest (telegram No. 63, September 27, 11 a.m.); the Minister telegraphed the Department (telegram No. 97, September 28, noon) that he had advised all Americans to leave Hungary (364.1115/3, 7).
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