340.1115A/317a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
124. Repeat to all offices. Reference paragraphs 20 to 22 of memorandum accompanying confidential circular instruction of March 21, 1939. Department has generously exercised the authority and the funds made available to it by the President for purposes of repatriation of American citizens desiring to return to the United States during the emergency from dangerous areas. The Government has discharged its duty to its citizens abroad and has rendered them every facility for their return and will continue to afford them every facility of our agencies abroad so far as concerns their protection and also in contacting their friends and relatives here for the purpose of obtaining from them funds for transmission to pay for their return. It has been decided to cease the practice of authorizing loans as of December 4, 1939, co-terminus with ending of the 90-day period of unrestricted travel allowed citizens by the President’s Proclamation issued under the provisions of the Neutrality Act in force at the time of the Proclamation.57 Exception will be made for meritorious cases which have been presented to Department for consideration prior to date stated. Accordingly, do not submit any cases after that date.
Referring Department’s circular telegram No. 75 of September 12, 7 p.m., to Bern, you should discontinue advances for subsistence on December 4 except to citizens whose cases have been presented to Department prior to that date and are awaiting Department’s reply.
- See Department of State Bulletin, September 9, 1939, p. 219.↩