125.0051/258: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
35. Your 5723, December 72 and other correspondence regarding exchange of United States officials and persons of assimilated categories who were in unoccupied zone of France. By two notes dated today3 Department has informed Swiss Legation in charge of German and Italian interests of safety of German and Italian members of Armistice Commission in North Africa who are reported to be in hands of United States authorities.
United States Government desires to proceed immediately with Exchange of French and United States officials. Some of French officials in United States have been assembled at Hershey, Pennsylvania, some have been released while others have remained fully at liberty. United States Government proposes to release them all and permit French officials to depart for such points in French territory as they may voluntarily choose. The French Ambassador and the members of his suite who wish to accompany him will be transported to Lisbon by airplane at the expense of the United States Government. United States Government would be grateful if Swiss Government would suggest a date for simultaneous exchange at Lisbon of French group from United States and of United States group from Lourdes.
Please stress to Swiss Government that United States Government desires to proceed with this exchange at earliest possible date.
United States Government will of course facilitate exchange of French officials and persons in assimilated categories in other American Republics for officials and persons in assimilated categories of those republics now in France. The former French representative at Caracas has already been permitted to proceed unmolested on a vessel destined for Europe.
- Not printed; see memorandum by Assistant Secretary of State Long, December 16, 1942, ibid., p. 374.↩
- Neither printed.↩