851.711/371: Telegram

The Consul General at Marseille (Hurley) to the Secretary of State

51. This morning French authorities removed from the Excambion 93 sacks of mail loaded at Genoa and consigned to New York. Sacks originated in Bucharest, Moscow, Sofia, Bale and Prague. Written orders to captain to unload mail indicated he could sail immediately sacks disembarked or, wait until examination completed, when all or part of mail would be returned to him.

Captain instructed by head office Export Line, Genoa, to sail without mail and ship left 9 this morning. Consulate orally informed by naval authorities that after examination of mail it would be returned to Export Line for transportation to New York. Instructions requested. Embassy informed by telephone and this telegram repeated to Embassy.

Hurley