Office of the Historian

340.1115A/959: Telegram

The Minister in Portugal (Pell) to the Secretary of State

Lisbon, June 21, 1940—6 p.m.
[Received June 21—3:21 p.m.]

81. Referring to the Legation’s telegram No. 76, June 19, 6 p.m.,98 informed now from Bordeaux and Madrid that at least 600 or 700 American refugees awaiting repatriation most of these expecting to come through Lisbon. Lisbon housing facilities exhausted, Portuguese Government will not permit transit unless we can guarantee a ship. They are also giving preference in over-crowded conditions to British, Dutch and Belgian refugees who would be liable to internment in France. Urge again that Manhattan or other ship be sent at once and that announcements be made that it will call at Lisbon, Bilbao and if possible St. Jean de Luz. Again repeat Portuguese Government having several hundred thousand visa applications and a food shortage in prospect cannot justly be asked to grant anything but strictly transit facilities.

Pell
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