740.00112A European War, 1939/966a Suppl.

The Secretary of State to Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics

Sirs: Reference is made to the Department’s circular instruction of August 28, 1941 relating to the Proclaimed List.

Although no general effort has been made up to the present time to include in the List Axis organizations which were not engaged in [Page 293] commerce, in a number of isolated cases non-commercial Axis organizations have been included and the successful results attending such inclusion indicate the desirability of a wider consideration of such organizations with respect to possible inclusion.

You are, therefore, requested to forward reports concerning Axis-inspired political organizations, Chambers of Commerce, schools, or other non-commercial groups with recommendations concerning the desirability of their inclusion in the Proclaimed List. In connection with such recommendations please bear in mind that inclusion may have desirable results through the stigma that will be attached to the organizations in the minds of the local public, through the possible inclusion of such names in local black lists, through the probable desire to resign on the part of persons who are not strongly pro-Axis in their sympathies but who may have joined for business or social reasons, and through the assuring that the sanctions dependent upon the Proclaimed List, including the denial of goods and the interception of communications, will be applied.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
Dean Acheson