390.1115A/628a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland ( Huddle )
50. Department has learned through the American Red Cross that Americans in Shanghai are now or will shortly be financially in distress. Pending the perfection of a satisfactory procedure for transmitting to needy Americans funds from private sources in the United States as well as for paying relief to American citizens found to be entitled thereto, Department desires to make available immediately to Shanghai and to any other post in enemy territory where the need is determined to be urgent small allotments, not exceeding ten thousand dollars each ($10,000) for disbursement in the discretion of the Swiss representative in small relief payments to those Americans having need for immediate financial assistance.
Such advances should of course be made only to those Americans actually in need and should not be in excess of amount necessary for minimum subsistence and for other essential extraordinary needs such as urgent medical attention. Payment should be made against individual receipts showing name and permanent address in the United States of recipient, together with an indication of evidence of citizenship presented. It is expected that repayment will eventually be made by those able to do so.
Please inform the Department urgently whether the Swiss Government is prepared temporarily to advance such sums from its own resources for later reimbursement by the Department or, if not, how such sums may be made immediately available to the Swiss representative at Shanghai and at any other place where needed. (Department’s 358, December 20, 6 p.m.5).
Department would appreciate receiving as soon as possible a statement of the financial situation of Americans in the various areas where this Government’s interests are under the protection of Switzerland and an estimate of the amount of funds immediately needed to relieve their situation, as well as the suggested maximum for individual relief payments based on the local cost of living in such countries. Americans having resources in the United States upon which they can draw should furnish the Department name and address of person or persons to be approached, amount needed, and purposes for which desired.
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