840.1115A/756½: Telegram

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

947. For the President and the Secretary. In view of the certainty that Italy will enter the war during the first week of June unless we send the Atlantic Fleet to Tangier, it would be folly to permit the Washington to enter the Mediterranean.

I consider it inhuman and indecent to refuse to permit embarkation on the Washington, after all Americans are embarked, of aliens who have fulfilled all visa requirements and I trust that before the Washington arrives in Bordeaux you will have authorized me to permit the embarkation of carefully selected aliens who have every right to seek refuge in our country. I can assure you that I will use such authority with discretion.

Bullitt