124.51/207: Telegram

The Chargé in Germany ( Morris ) to the Secretary of State

2148. Department’s 1486, May 24, 8 p.m. I have just had a lengthy conversation with the competent Foreign Office official with the following result.

1.
All officials of foreign governments who were recognized by the French Government in a diplomatic capacity irrespective of whether they were recognized as consular officers and irrespective of whether their functions were actually diplomatic or consular must leave Paris on June 10. No extension of this time will be granted to them. In consequence Edwin Plitt and Tyler Thompson must leave on that date. The following officers will be permitted to remain: Laurence Taylor, George Miller, Laurence Daymont and Charles Anderson as building superintendent looked upon as having equivalent status to an officer (hochbeamter). I suggested the name of Daymont as one to be retained but I imagine the Department might [Page 524] substitute Wood, Betts or Weisenburg if preferred in place of Daymont. An American personnel of 15 [11?] persons may also remain bringing the total staff to a permitted limit of 15 persons. The American assistance may be of any category from clerk to messenger or laborer as desired.
2.
The main Embassy building must be closed including locking the front door and removing the Embassy coat-of-arms. The consular section with side entrance on Rue D’Anglas may remain open and be utilized for the consular service to be performed. The official told me that this section of the building had formerly been used for consular service but the door had later been closed and the main entrance opened for people seeking consular service. I left under the distinct impression that the foregoing is a limit of concessions which will be obtained. According to the official interviewed this concession is much greater than accorded to any other representation at Paris; all others have been allowed only one or two consular officials with staff of 2 or 3 clerks, less than half of that proposed above. The Embassy buildings of other nations will have to be closed. The official said the greater concession to us is based upon the German Government’s recognition of our larger interests including the representation of the interests of foreign governments.

At the outset of my discussion the Foreign Office official was only prepared to allow 2 officers and 3 or 4 subordinates to remain. I managed to raise the figure to 15 all told but I have no hopes of a larger concession. It is my understanding that no personnel of foreign nationality will be allowed to remain in any capacity. It is important to note that the proposal above outlined is to some extent the personal concession of the Foreign Office official with whom I treated and requires the approbation of the superior officials of the Foreign Office. The official asked me to submit this proposal regarding staff and building to the Department and to obtain its reaction thereto. I agreed to do so without responsibility and without any guarantee that it would be acceptable to the Department. I explained that I was not in a position at the present time to state whether the proposed arrangements would come anywhere near meeting the minimum needs of our representation at Paris.

For background I may say that I have reason to believe that the highly placed officials of the German Government who desire the suppression of diplomatic missions at Paris had a more severe outlook and at first were not inclined to allow any representation at all to remain. I believe it to be true that it has only been through the persuasion of experienced diplomatic officials of the German Government that any concession at all may be entertained.

I broached the subject of permission for the diplomatic officials leaving to take with them the accumulated pouches. I will receive an answer as to how that may be treated at my next interview which will [Page 525] take place as soon as the Department answers this telegram which I request should be as promptly as possible.77

Repeated to Paris except confidential code section.

Morris
  1. In telegram No. 1566, June 3, 4 p.m., the Department informed The Chargé in Germany that it had taken steps to comply with the German requests as to closing the American Embassy in Paris and had telegraphed Vichy and Paris the necessary instructions.