702.5451/9–1144: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Political Adviser, Allied Force Headquarters (Kirk)48
124. ReDeptel 96, September 1, 8 p.m.49 German occupying authorities forced Swiss Consulates at Marseille and Nice to evacuate to Montelimar and Grenoble respectively. Department believes that they should return as facilities and opportunities for protection of United States and British nationals are not so favorable inland as at Marseille and Nice. Please discuss matter with military authorities and inform Department of result in order that this may be taken up with Swiss Government.50 Department views this step as of considerable importance in view of its probable inability to open offices in southern France for some time to come.
- Mr. Kirk served concurrently (as Political Adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, whose Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ) was at Caserta, and as American member of the Advisory Council for Italy, with a staff at Caserta and a staff at Rome.↩
- Not printed.↩
- The Minister in Switzerland was advised in telegram 3252, September 21, noon, to inform the Swiss Foreign Office that military authorities in southern France were under instructions to facilitate; return of Swiss Consuls to Marseille and Nice (702.5451/9–2144).↩