740.00114 European War 1939/3015: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
Washington, February 2,
1943—10 p.m.
267. Confidential for Legation’s information only and not for communication to Swiss Government. In view of various reports received from Legation dealt with in separate telegrams today regarding relationship between treatment accorded American official group Baden Baden and Italian and German officers of North African Armistice Commission following statement is provided Legation for its background information.
[Page 79]- 1.
- There are detained under United States military auspices in Great Britain 61 Germans and 212 Italians taken in North Africa. There are included in this number 24 German civilians and 13 Italian civilians. The civilians are accommodated in three comfortable private residences with facilities surpassing in every way those available at Bad Neuenahr. They were visited on January 22 by Preiswerk of the Swiss Legation. The military personnel are detained as prisoners of war. It is expected to transfer the entire group to United States in the immediate future where the civilians will be accommodated in a very comfortable but small resort hotel and the military personnel will be placed in prisoners of war camps. Consideration is being given to the possibility of furnishing exceptionally comfortable accommodations for military personnel but it is not considered probable that such accommodations will be provided.
- 2.
- There are in the United States 10 German military members of the Armistice Commission who are accommodated in prisoners of war camps. These persons are receiving and will receive same treatment as the military personnel referred to above.
- 3.
- 36 Italians and two German members of the Armistice Commission are in French custody in North Africa. It is not yet known whether these persons will be transferred to United States custody. The Italians include 11 persons believed to be civilians. No information regarding the treatment of these persons is available but the French authorities wish to try two of the Italians for espionage.
- 4.
- From the available information there are probably at large in North Africa or in military custody, but not yet reported to the Department’s representatives, other German and Italian members of the Armistice Commission.
As previously stated the military members of the Armistice Commission are not available for exchange.
Hull