340.1115A/2367: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Marseille ( Fullerton )
16. Your 4, January 2, 1 p.m.3 Selective Service headquarters states informally that while arrangements may possibly be made later for eligible Americans abroad to register for military service at diplomatic and consular offices abroad, there is as yet no procedure therefor and they should accordingly, until further notice, be advised to register for military service upon arrival in United States. War Department does not contemplate making funds available for repatriation of such persons.
As you know, this Government at great expense provided special vessels for repatriation of Americans in Europe and repeatedly made funds available to aid needy citizens unable otherwise to finance cost their return transportation. It is now impracticable to provide further special facilities for those who failed previously to heed repeated suggestion that they return to United States. Americans desiring now to return must arrange on their own responsibility transportation from Lisbon via clipper or other commercial means such as neutral flag vessels.
As in the past, Department willing endeavor contact relatives, friends or employers for needed funds. Only when these prove unobtainable will Department consider making loan funds available and then only for deserving cases of escapees able to qualify for loans strictly within the provisions of circular instruction of March 21, 1939 as amended by circular of August 12, 1941, Diplomatic Serial 3382.4
If you should consider it necessary to recommend allotment of funds to meet urgent need in this respect, telegraph number of such special cases and amount of funds probably needed for (1) temporary subsistence while awaiting necessary transit visas (2) transportation [Page 245] to Lisbon (3) temporary subsistence while awaiting sailing at Lisbon, and (4) trans-ocean transportation.
- Not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, p. 413.↩