740.00115 European War 1939/216: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:40 p.m.]
87. My 2474, November 28, 6 p.m.89 The further note from the Foreign Office dated January 9 refers to Lord Halifax’s note of November 24 (my 2454, November 25, 1 p.m.),90 and states that Lord Halifax “has the honor to confirm that the terms of the latter note were intended to convey the agreement of His Majesty’s Government to the proposal of the State Department for the reciprocal release of civilians of military age.” It continues:
“As regards the question of principle, His Majesty’s Government would prefer to adopt the method suggested by the State Department in paragraph 5 of the aide-mémoire under reference, rather than the alternative suggestion made by the German Government that the state concerned should undertake not to call such men to arms.”
Repeated to Berlin.