Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, General, Volume I

340.1015/2: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt)¹⁵

Washington, September 3, 1939—7 p.m.

730. Personal for the Ambassador. Your 1745, September 2, 9 p.m. In sending circular No. 56^15a I had no intention of instructing our missions to assume the protection of the citizens of Latin American countries in general throughout Europe.

There are many of the countries of Latin America which have no or limited diplomatic and consular representation in Europe. As a matter of continental solidarity, and in furtherance of the Good Neighbor Policy and the purposes of those agreements for cooperation already undertaken among the states of the American hemispheres I desire the representatives of the United States, when requested, to give their unofficial assistance to citizens of countries of these continents in cases where they are not represented by diplomatic and consular officers.

Further, I desired as well to suggest by the circular under reference that our diplomatic and consular representatives should hold themselves available for such advice and counsel as they may find they can give to their colleagues from the American Republics in case such advice and counsel is sought and might be useful.

There was no intention on my part that the interests of American citizens be subordinated to those of others.

Hull

15. A similar telegram was sent September 5, 5 p.m., to all American diplomatic representatives in the American Republics with reference to Department’s circular of September 1, 6 p.m., p. 593.
16. August 31, 8 p.m., p. 593.