124.51/200: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 22—4:40 p.m.]
1432. From Paris. During a conversation this morning with Counselor Von Kraft who has just replaced Count Thun as the Diplomatic Corps liaison officer at the German Embassy, he showed me the note from his Foreign Office requesting the withdrawal by June 10 of all remaining units of foreign diplomatic missions still in Paris and expressed the opinion that no officer who has carried on diplomatic functions here since the occupation would be permitted to remain, regardless of any consular assignment they may hold in conjunction with their diplomatic designation. Referring specifically to the American officer personnel still on duty here, he pointed out that [Page 521] should consular establishments be authorized to remain, which he thinks unlikely, a reduction in the number of those officers assigned here and serving in a purely consular capacity would in all probability also be admitted [demanded?] and asked to be immediately supplied with a revised list of the present Paris Embassy officers and subordinate staff showing their nationality and functions performed. It is my understanding that of the subordinate personnel only those heretofore engaged on purely consular work will be permitted to stay, but only in reduced number. Please instruct. Plitt.75
- Edwin A. Plitt, American Consul in charge of American interests in occupied France.↩