862.85/2121: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Costa Rica (Dwyre)
98. Referring to your 135, June 6, 4 p.m. and confirming Mr. Bonsal’s18 telephone conversation with you of June 7. The assurances given to the German and Italian diplomatic representatives by the Foreign Minister (as reported in your 124, May 28, 3 p.m.) have been complied with. The American Government has not placed obstacles in the way of the seamen being permitted to embark in the Canal Zone for Japan by the first Japanese steamer calling in the Zone. However, as the American Government was reliably informed that due to the non-availability of space on Japanese ships calling in the Zone their stay there might be indefinitely prolonged, the seamen are being transported from the Canal Zone to San Francisco; while en route and in the United States, the seamen will remain under the surveillance of the American authorities in the same manner as when they were in the Canal Zone, and they will be given the opportunity to sail from San Francisco for Japan. The German Embassy in Washington has been so informed.
You are authorized to communicate the foregoing (with the exception of the above reference in parentheses to your telegram) to the Costa Rican Government in writing and you should orally inform it that it is at liberty to publish your note.
[Page 95]You may state orally to the Foreign Minister that the Government of the United States has assisted the Government of Costa Rica in fulfilling its desire to deport these seamen and repeat that the promises of the Foreign Minister as reported by you have not been broken.
- Philip W. Bonsal, Chief of the Division of the American Republics.↩