701.6224/64a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle)
662. American interests—Germany. Please request Swiss Government to inform German Government that the United States Government has received reliable information52 that the German Government has instructed its official representatives in Bolivia not to leave that country to be repatriated through the United States unless compelled by force and to threaten the Bolivian Government with reprisals if force is exercised.
The United States Government assumes that the German Government in the effort to avoid the repatriation of its officials in other American Republics has sent similar instructions to them.
Please request Swiss Government to inform German Government that there are no transportation facilities available for the repatriation of their officials except those provided by or with the consent of this Government; that the Argentine Government has indicated its clear refusal to receive the German officials pending their repatriation; and that the present attitude of the German Government indicates to the United States Government a probability that the German Government has no serious intention of proceeding to an exchange of official personnel.
You may continue that if this Government finds that the exchange of personnel is to be interminably delayed by new pretexts it cannot continue to maintain enemy personnel indefinitely at White Sulphur Springs which was taken over on the understanding that its use by [Page 335] this Government would be for a limited time. It will be necessary to seek other quarters for the personnel now detained at that resort and comparable quarters will not be available during the spring and summer seasons.
Similar message sent to Wadsworth for delivery to Italian Foreign Office.
- Telegrams No. 156, March 11, 2 p.m., and No. 159, March 11, 5 p.m., from the Chargé in Bolivia, not printed.↩