862.4016/1791: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 8—10:10 a.m.]
536. The D. N. B. announces the publication in the Reichsgesetzblatt of October 7 (not yet received by the Embassy) of an order by the Minister of Interior invalidating passports of all Jews of German nationality within the Reich. The order becomes effective upon publication and persons concerned are obligated to turn in their passports to the appropriate authorities within 2 weeks thereafter. Those Jews now out of the country are required to give up their passports within 2 weeks from the day on which they reenter the Reich. Passports of Jews issued for travel abroad regain their validity if they bear a visa of the passport authorities as specified by the Minister of Interior. In lieu of “internal” passports Jews in Germany are to be supplied with the identity cards described in my dispatch 262 of August 1, 1938.52
The Consulate General reports that several passports presented today for visas by Jews had been marked by the police authorities with a large red letter J. This may be of interest to the immigration authorities.
Sent by mail to London for Rublee.53