340.1115A/527: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Denmark (Atherton)
Washington, April
19, 1940—6 p.m.
62. Your 96, April 17, 3 p.m.
- 1.
- Department cannot provide funds for special evacuation train as you suggest. Americans having funds are expected to bear cost of [Page 77] transportation. With respect to those needing funds for repatriation, Department contemplates allotting you amount from which loans to such citizens may be made in accordance, as stated in the Department’s 29 of April 10, 9 p.m., with the provisions of the secret memorandum accompanying the Department’s confidential circular of March 21, 1939. Procedure indicated in the memorandum as modified by circular telegrams to Bern nos. 52, 55, 75, 78 and 90, relating to investigation of ability of friends, relatives, or employers in the United States to furnish funds in each case, must be followed. Temporary subsistence may be granted during investigation, transportation expenses being subsequently advanced against promissory notes should investigation prove negative. With the understanding, therefore, that the Department cannot undertake the hiring of a special train and that Americans proceeding on such a train must pay their own traveling expenses, either from their own funds or, in the cases of persons without private funds, from loans made by you according to the foregoing instructions, you may approach the appropriate authorities on your plan for evacuation of Americans by special train. You will of course keep the Legation at The Hague informed in this connection.
- 2.
- In view of the uncertainty of future developments in the Netherlands it is inadvisable for Americans to go from Denmark to the Netherlands unless they are proceeding to the United States and have sufficient funds for the entire journey. In that connection you are advised that as the Department cannot provide funds for subsistence and removal from place to place of Americans remaining abroad, allotments made for loans may not be used for such purposes. They may only be made for transportation expenses to the United States and for temporary subsistence in connection therewith.
Hull