763.72119/2730
The Swiss Minister ( Sulzer ) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honor to inform your Excellency that my Government has been requested by the Government of German Austria to transmit to the Government of the United States the following communication.5
“Under the terms of the armistice the Imperial German troops must vacate the territory of Austria-Hungary within 15 days or be disarmed and interned.
It is very hard for German Austria strictly to carry out this provision. German Austria is deeply interested in leaving in possession of their offices in Vienna, the representatives of the German chief of the military railway service, the German supervising office in Vienna and the representative of the Prussian War Office (the latter meaning a personnel of 3 officers, 1 representative of the office, and 7 non-commissioned officers and privates) as their activities in promoting the smooth working of the railway transportation and in economic questions are highly important.
As the German Government has now also concluded an armistice with the Entente, we beg you to obtain the Entente Governments’ consent to the continuation of the German missions. The matter is extremely urgent, as the time limit set for the Germans expires on November 17.”
Accept [etc].
- The following is a translation of the German text quoted by the Minister; the file translation has been revised.↩