740.0011 European War 1939/13541
The Consul at Salonika (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 30.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith an account of the occupation by German troops of the city of Salonika on April 9, 1941, [Page 744] (Memorandum No. 1, April 10, 194126), and the events leading up to it, together with various memoranda relating to the activities of this Consulate in protecting American interests, its efforts to represent foreign interests, and its relations with the German authorities since the occupation.
There is included also correspondence relating to the theft by German soldiers of the automobile of Vice Consul Gullion.
The Consulate, as will be seen by these memoranda, has found it particularly difficult to act effectively to represent foreign interests. The German authorities here have taken the view that Yugoslavia and Belgium, being occupied countries, no longer have consular interests and that the United States Consulate in Salonika, therefore, cannot assume provisional representation of these interests as was requested by the Belgian and Yugoslav consulates here.
Salonika was directly in the path of German military operations and developments occurred with great swiftness. The first military units to arrive on the spot took immediate possession of the British Consulate where the American flag was displayed and a notice had been affixed to the doors. Since then the Consul was allowed to enter the Consulate only once and then with military escort. (Memorandum Enclosure No. 2, April 9, 1941).
In response to this Consulate’s memorandum (Enclosure No. 2a of April 17, 1941), reviewing the refusal of the German authorities to permit representation of British interests or taking charge of the consular property and archives, and requesting a clarification of the attitude of the German authorities, the German Consul General, Dr. Schonberg, replied verbally five days later that the German High Command here categorically refused to permit such representation. At the same time the question as to whether the refusal of facilities to represent British interests included a prohibition to pay relief to destitute holders of British passports was not made clear. The German Consul General said that he “would advise against” such relief. As soon as communications with Athens are restored the Consulate will ask the Consulate General to seek a clarification from the German higher authorities in Athens. The officials in Salonika have been changed frequently and it had been found difficult to get a decision from any competent person.
Efforts to protect American interests were directed, in the period immediately before the occupation, to aiding the evacuation of the native American colony remaining here, and since then chiefly in insisting to little avail that the taking over of American properties [Page 745] for billeting purposes be done in accordance with regular requisition procedure against receipt and with hope of compensation.
The Consulate succeeded in assisting the Americans who wished to leave Salonika to leave (See Memorandum No. 1, April 10, 1941, page 3). In the matter of requisitioning of American property informal efforts to avoid requisition have been futile even in the case of the American Farm School, where in spite of repeated promises of the Consul General of Germany that the premises would not be occupied, three different detachments of German troops have succeeded each other there (Memorandum No. 3, April 17, 1941). The American Consul occupies living quarters in the home of the Director of the School and this building was not occupied.
The German authorities requested that the Consulate abandon the temporary office, which, under Department’s Instruction of November 23, 1940,27 it had maintained at the Farm School for reasons of safety during the Italian bombardments, and concentrate its functions at the Consulate in the city. Consul Johnson was reluctant (Memorandum No. 5 of April 16, 1941) to do this but in the existing circumstances and in the absence of communications with the mission or Washington felt obliged to comply. A possible clue to the German intention in forcing the closing of this office (Memorandum No. 4, April 17, 1941) on one occasion suggested itself when German soldiers shortly afterwards conducted a search of the Farm School for the purpose, they said, of finding a radio sending apparatus which, they thought, might have been concealed there. On this occasion soldiers insisted on entering the Consul’s own rooms although they did not search them. This incident was brought to the attention of the German authorities who sent a detail of soldiers to the Consulate to inquire about the matter and the German Consul General informally expressed his regrets. This incident confirmed the impression of the Consulate, gained from repeated contacts with the occupying authorities, that the different military units occupying Salonika act independently of each other and that the supposed central headquarters did not control the activities of such independent roving detachments of soldiers as visited the Farm School on this occasion.
No formal receipt or requisition of the American Farm School has been made in spite of frequent requests. The aviation units which have occupied the Farm School have been courteous and appear to have respected school property. The Director of the school, Mr. House, who is also Executive Officer of the American Red Cross in Greece, and Mrs. House have remained in residence at the Farm School and they have tried to maintain good relations with the occupying troops.
[Page 746]The Anatolia College for boys and the Anatolia Girls’ School have also been occupied by the German military authorities. The German Consul General, Dr. Schonberg, at first requested that the German military be permitted to “occupy” this property for a period of about two weeks (Memorandum No. 6 of April 22, 1941). Consul Johnson explained that he was unable to authorize this. Immediately after this conversation it was learned that German officers were examining the College property and it was taken over the same day (April 13, 1941). An informal memorandum requisition was handed over to Consul Johnson which was stated by him to be unsatisfactory, especially since it indicated that the German and American Consuls had come to an agreement concerning handing over the premises. A formal requisition which was repeatedly promised and requested, was not issued until May 26, 1941 (Translation enclosed).
The Greek staff of Anatolia, at first permitted to remain, were one day later ordered to leave the premises. There now appears to be a possibility that some of the property of the school has been damaged or taken away and correspondence has been initiated in an endeavor to improve the situation. The Anatolia Girls’ School in the city has been occupied by two different units and billeting orders were issued covering it. This order, similar to one issued for the Socony-Vacuum Oil installation, simply states that the High Command of Salonika directs that space be made for a given number of men. No compensation has ever been definitely ordered. Some of the requisitioning officers have offered the opinion that compensation would be forthcoming when arrangements had been completed between the Germans and some Greek Government after the conquest of Greece was completed. Nothing more definite has ever been promised. The Consulate will miss no opportunity to urge that the requisitions be made in the formal manner and against hope of compensation as required by standing instructions.
The case of the Socony-Vacuum Oil installation in Salonika was complicated by the fact that the occupying authorities claim the destruction of these installations prior to the German entry as sabotage. The Shell and Steaua Romana installations were also destroyed. Following the publication of a decree to the effect that the port and storages of liquid fuel were considered war booty and were confiscated, this office intervened informally and was able to establish that this installation, which is in the port region, was not included in the order.
On April 16, 1941, the plant superintendent of the Socony, Mr. Mevon Megikian, evidently considered by the Germans as the highest ranking company executive remaining in Salonika was arrested by them. The Consulate felt concern that he might be held on charges involving the company and presented the memorandum enclosed [Page 747] (Memorandum No. 7 of April 16, 1941). On April 27, 1941, Mr. Megikian was released after having been detained one week without apparently ever having been questioned. Two remaining Socony clerical employees, left in custody of files and office, were in constant contact with the Germans who apparently were attempting to hasten them into decisions which would have involved repairing and restoring the installation, at the expense of the company for the purpose of doing business with the Germans (Memorandum No. 8 of April 10, 1941). The Consulate advised them to delay any such action and to disclaim any ability to take such decisions prior to communication with executives in Athens. This the employees did successfully. Upon threat by the German officers that the Germans would consider a failure to cooperate as sabotage the employees had previously been compelled to go ahead with repairs to one gasoline storage tank and the pipeline connection with the pier. These works had been damaged by previous Italian air raids and not by the demolitions accompanying the evacuation of Salonika. Some of the buildings at the installation were taken over for German troops upon presentation of a written order.
The Consulate has tried to exercise such stewardship as it could over American property which has been requisitioned. This, of course, is complicated by the frequent changes in German personnel, occupation of buildings for confidential military purposes, and the unevenness in the attitude of the different German units. In general, the Consulate has tried to inspect American property and to keep track of movable property as far as possible, although the absence of inventories for the property has made this difficult.
In reviewing the relations of the Consulate with the German military authorities, it should be borne in mind that the occupation took place at a time of strain in German-American relations. American action with reference to foreign ships had just taken place and other events and declarations at this period did not tend to encourage the Germans to maintain a friendly attitude toward American officials within the area of actual military operations, particularly in a seaport. Furthermore, Salonika is remote from capitals and diplomatic missions, communications were and are inexistent, and the city has been under complete military administration by officials of brief authority. Decisions obtained upon conferring with German officers were often ignored or found invalid by those who succeeded them the following day, apparently without having been informed of the dispositions of their predecessors. The request of the Consulate to be allowed to represent foreign interests in this important sea-and-air base especially was a delicate matter to which there existed as background certain incidents involving the suppression of the Central Powers Consulates in Salonika during the last war. In addition, the presence at the [Page 748] British Consulate of military and naval representatives, which was known to the Germans presumably influenced their attitude toward granting custody of the building and archives to the American Consulate.
In spite of all these considerations the attitude of the German officers with whom the Consulate dealt rarely showed any lapse from courtesy. The fact remains, however, that it was difficult to obtain definite action on requests, or to accomplish definite results.
Symptomatic of the attitude of the soldiery toward America and Americans was the theft of the Vice Consul’s automobile (See Memorandum No. 9 of April 19, 1941 and correspondence) under circumstances which leave little doubt that it was taken precisely because it was a consular car.
At another time when the Vice Consul visited a yachting club where a small boat belonging to him was being taken away by German naval personnel, he was told that since America “had taken so many boats, surely she could spare this one.” In this case, the German Consulate assisted in the return of the boat without incident, but two weeks later it was again taken by German naval forces and has not been recovered, although a letter dated May 15, 1941 (copy enclosed) has been addressed to the German Consulate General requesting an inquiry.
It is possible that the Consulate may obtain more results in its relations with the occupying authorities when the situation has become more stable and the German authorities are no longer changed so frequently.
The Consulate is submitting its report on the situation in the form of the accompanying memoranda rather than in a series of separate and complete despatches, first, because there has been no opportunity to report on incidents as they arose because of the lack of communications, and secondly because the matters which have arisen evolve new phases from day to day and are, in most cases, still unsettled questions.
Respectfully yours,