Office of the Historian

340.1115A/1523: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)

Washington, October 9, 1940—7 p.m.

3058. Reference your 3169, September 23, 4 p.m. and your 3338, October 8.66 Despite the facts outlined in Department’s no. 3026, October 7th67 with reference to the Sperling situation68 and reasons cited therein, Department has been giving serious and sympathetic consideration to the recommendations which were implied in your inquiry contained in your no. 3169, September 23d. The problem has been considered in connection with the possibility of evacuating other Americans on the continent through France. The situation is being explored to ascertain actual number of passengers that could be counted on so that Department may be assured that the ship will sail full, in contrast to previous sailings.

For your confidential information, the problem has been further delayed and complicated by the continuing possibility of developments in the Far East and the imminent necessity there of providing ships to evacuate women and children from that area who have not [Page 169] up to this time had the privileges that have been repeatedly extended to Americans in Europe. That problem is more acute today than heretofore.69

However, the Department for its guidance would like to have your estimate of the exact number of evacuees that could be counted on from England and your recommendation with reference to the situation in view of recent developments. It is needless to say that your judgment would have great weight with the Department here and would be followed if at all possible when considered in conjunction with necessities now existing in the Far East.

Hull
  1. Latter not printed.↩
  2. Not printed; it stated that “Americans who did not avail themselves of previous opportunities to return in spite of repeated warnings and provision financial facilities for those unable defray cost of passage cannot expect further special facilities to be provided for them. Route via air to Lisbon still open to them.” It also stated that Consuls should be instructed to express policy of the Government. (340.1115/30090)↩
  3. Alexander Sperling, an American who requested immediate transportation from England.↩
  4. For correspondence regarding the evacuation of American citizens from the Far East, see vol. iv, pp. 930 ff.↩