390.1115A/676: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Rangoon (Schnare)
57. Your 106, January 31, 1 p.m. Extra space made available by emergency consular certificates issued under discretionary authority given you by Department’s 51, December 20, may be utilized only for [Page 260] American citizens and their accompanying alien spouses and unmarried minor alien children properly documented for entry into the United States.
The Department is not prepared, on a basis of available information, to grant blanket discretionary authority permitting extra space covered by emergency consular certificates to be made available to other aliens except to citizens of those countries allied with the United States in the war effort and then only at the request of their respective consuls and the local authorities in such grave emergency that time will not permit prior submission of your recommendations to and the receipt of specific instructions from the Department. If at any time such an emergency arises you may be governed accordingly; otherwise you should submit for the Department’s consideration specific recommendations including number and nationality of aliens concerned, their documentation, destination and statement that their accommodation will not displace American citizens desiring to depart on the vessel.
In addition to having life preservers for each person on board, there must be sufficient buoyant equipment. See Diplomatic Serial No. 3047 of March 28, 1939.20