Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

701.6211/1464a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle)

Washington, December 13, 1941.

285. Please inform the Swiss Government for the information of the German and Italian Governments¹ that the personnel of the German and Italian Embassies at Washington is receiving treatment in accordance with the statement provided by the Department to the American Embassies at Berlin and Rome² for communication in the present contingency to the German and Italian Governments, respectively. The members of the staffs of the German and Italian Embassies are being allowed freedom of movement within the District of Columbia and suburbs and are residing in their homes. They have freedom of communication with the Mission of the protecting power and with the Department of State. They are being given every facility to satisfy their personal needs and to obtain funds for that purpose and they are being accorded such police protection as appears necessary for their personal safety.

You can assure the Swiss Government and it may so inform the German and Italian Governments that the Department is doing everything within its power to assure the comfort of these persons.

When you communicate the foregoing to the Swiss Government, please request it also to inform the German and Italian Governments that they may obtain from their Missions in Washington through the intermediary of protecting power any information which they may desire in regard to the treatment which the personnel of their Mission is receiving.

Please request the Swiss Government to bring the foregoing promptly to the attention of our Chargés d’Affaires at Berlin and Rome and to instruct them that henceforth their communications with the Department should be through the representatives of Switzerland.

Please request the Swiss Government to inform the German and Italian Governments that this Government assumes that equally favorable treatment will be accorded to its representatives in Berlin and Rome.

Hull

1. The Swiss Government was in charge of German and Italian interests in the United States as well as U. S. interests in Germany and Italy.
2. Telegram No. 1523, May 28, 1941, 11 p.m., to the Ambassador in Germany, and telegram No. 419, June 17, 1941, 10 p.m., to the Ambassador in Italy; neither printed.