Office of the Historian

701.0090/156: Circular telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Cuba (Braden)43

Washington, June 1, 1942.

Please inform Foreign Office that M. S. Gripsholm, a Swedish vessel chartered by United States Government for transporting Japanese to Lourenço Marques and for bringing Americans back to New York, will adhere to the following schedule on its first voyage:

Leave New York, 4 p.m. June 10; arrive Rio de Janeiro June 24; leave Rio de Janeiro June 25; arrive Lourenço Marques July 7; leave Lourenço Marques July 11; arrive Trinidad for fuel and water July 29; leave Trinidad July 30; arrive New York August 4.

[Page 426]

M. S. Gripsholm is painted white with the name of the vessel, the Swedish flag and the words Sverige and Diplomat painted prominently on port and starboard. The vessel will travel fully lighted at night with identifying markings fully illuminated.

Please request Foreign Office to grant safe-conduct for the several voyages of M. S. Gripsholm between New York and Lourenço Marques. Inform Department as soon as assurance of safe-conduct is received in order that Department may notify Swiss Government.

Sailing dates of subsequent voyages of Gripsholm will be communicated well in advance of each sailing.

Hull

  1. The same on the same date to the Ambassador in Panama, and the Ministers in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

    Similar telegrams sent on the same date to the Ambassadors in China (No. 460) and the Soviet Union (No. 268); to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom and the Minister to the Belgian, Polish, Norwegian, Netherlands, Czechoslovak, Yugoslav, and Greek Governments in Exile (No. 2480); to the Minister in Switzerland (No. 1402) to obtain assurances of safe-conduct from all Axis Governments; and circular telegram to the Ambassadors in Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay.

    ↩