701.0090/2976: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
4168. Following is summary of Department’s airmail instruction 5260, November 8, replying to your despatch 13200 of October 23:61
Department’s attitude toward publicity surrounding visit of Gripsholm was outlined in its 22, October 2,62 to Port Elizabeth for Langdon, requesting him to caution repatriates against loose talk which might lead to circulation of information possibly helpful to [Page 945] the enemy or detrimental to interests of 10,000 American civilians and thousands of American prisoners of war remaining in the Far East. Department nevertheless does not wish to act in a manner which might be interpreted as limiting the freedom of the press. Accordingly, the Department recommends the following on questions specifically raised in your despatch:
- 1.
- Gripsholm passengers should be allowed to send telegrams on presentation of landing card.
- 2.
- For reasons given in detail, Department would not wish to limit nature of messages sent by passengers in any manner other than already prescribed by local censorship and existing security regulations. Such messages should, however, be sent by cable rather than by radio to avoid content becoming known immediately to the enemy.
- 3.
- It is not feasible to limit remittances to passengers to channel constituted by Department and Embassy.
- 4.
- While realizing impracticability of international telephone calls by passengers, Department does not wish to be in a position of denying them that privilege.
- 5.
- Department does not wish to take any steps to discourage repatriates from mailing letters at Rio de Janeiro.
- 6.
- Department concurs in recommendation that newspaper representatives and other non-official individuals be not allowed on board Gripsholm. Interviews on shore should be satisfactory for all newsmen at Rio de Janeiro.
- 7.
- Department is not informed of Brazilian censorship policy regarding press despatches concerning call of Gripsholm. Department assumes Brazilian authorities will not wish to pass material of nature to jeopardize chances of repatriation of Brazilian, United States and other American nationals remaining in Far East or information possibly prejudicial to interests of individuals held by Japan. Department considers it desirable that press despatches be sent by cable and not by wireless, thus delaying receipt of information by the enemy. Department assumes press representatives will realize seriousness of matters at stake and will be patient with Censorship authorities. If they make representations to Embassy they should be informed that Department does not wish to impair freedom of press but likewise does not wish its representatives to exercise any pressure upon Brazilian Censorship which might be construed as an attempt to limit conscientious discharge of Censor’s duty.