340.1115A/2409: Telegram
The Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 24—4:51 p.m.]
257. American Interests—Welfare Messages. Department’s 172, 21st and Legation’s 248, 23d. Foreign Office officials advised this morning that Swiss representatives abroad are beginning report receipt greatly increasing number communications from Americans requesting news their relatives and friends. Foreign Office officials expressed serious concern that Swiss official facilities for making welfare inquiries and transmitting personal messages for Americans and equally for nationals of many other countries represented by Switzerland will be too greatly overburdened by volume to afford efficient service. They stated that at various places the Swiss representatives cannot obtain sufficient acceptable assistants.
They therefore propose that such inquiries and messages be sent to International Red Cross Committee Geneva for handling if the Committee will agree.
The Legation will be glad if such a proposal would meet with Department’s approval to discuss matter with International Red Cross Committee officials at Geneva and if they are agreeable, to work out some arrangement whereby Legation can use Committee’s facilities in place of Swiss official facilities for making welfare inquiries and transmitting brief personal messages for American citizens.