124.51/199: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Morris)
1486. Your 1971, May 20, 10 a.m. You are instructed to present in person a communication along the following lines to the German Foreign Office:
“The Government of the United States has given full and careful consideration to the request of the German Government that this Government now withdraw what is left of its diplomatic representation in Paris.
When the French Government left Paris in June 1940, certain members of the American Embassy were instructed to remain there in order that this Government might be in a position to afford proper protection to American citizens who remained in the area occupied by the German military forces, to American official and private property located therein, and to those foreign interests representation of which by this Government has been agreed to by the German Government.
On the departure of the American Chargé d’Affaires76 in Paris on May 6, American interests in occupied France were left in charge of Mr. Edwin A. Plitt, who took over as American Consul and who has since signed his official communications in that capacity. When informing the German Embassy of his forthcoming departure, the American Chargé d’Affaires in Paris was given to understand that while it seemed advisable, from the German joint of view, that the need for American diplomatic representation in Paris had ceased to exist, no doubt obtained in the minds of the German authorities that the multitude of American interests in occupied France required the continuance of American consular representation in that area.
The Government of the United States is prepared on its part to cancel as of June 10 the diplomatic status of any American officials now residing in the occupied area of France.
Should, however, the German Government not agree to consuls remaining in Paris, it should be pointed out that the situation becomes [Page 522] very complicated. The German Government is no doubt aware of the presence in the region under its military control of over 1400 American citizens, some of whom have been unable to obtain exit visas from the German authorities. There is also a vast amount of property belonging both to American citizens and to the American Government. Furthermore, this Government is responsible to other Governments for the protection of their interests. Consequently, the German Government will no doubt be prepared to guarantee the proper protection of the foregoing American interests; whether this should take the form of permitting American consular representatives to remain in the area or through other suitable guarantees is a matter for further discussion with the German Government which, by virtue of its military occupation, now exercises control in this area.”
Should it be indicated that the German request entails the withdrawal of consular representatives as well, you should then make additional observations along the following lines. Whatever solution is to be found, the Government of the United States considers that its position is clear and that if the German Government requires the complete withdrawal of American representation it thereby assumes responsibility for American interests for which it must be held strictly to account by this Government. It will also be incumbent upon the Government of the United States to make appropriate notification to other Governments, the representation of whose interests have been confided to it.
Should the German Government insist upon the withdrawal of all American representation from occupied France, it is assumed that the American Government would be free to take such steps as might be necessary to assure custodial service of official property in that area.
You should likewise point out that there are some 16 to 20 bags of official mail in the Embassy at Paris awaiting despatch to Vichy and to Washington. It is naturally assumed that with the departure of diplomatic personnel from Paris the German Government would give the necessary instructions to permit the departing officials to take this mail with them.
- Maynard B. Barnes.↩