352.6315/6: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Austria (Messersmith)
35. Your 49, September 10, 11 a.m. At the request of the Austrian Legation in Washington, our Chargé d’Affaires at Madrid was authorized on July 26 to extend to Austrian nationals, at his discretion and in so far as circumstances permitted, his facilities for protection and if necessary evacuation. We have never withdrawn this authorization nor is it our intention to do so, but on the other hand, we feel that it is impossible for us to give our Chargé more categorical instructions than he now has for the reason that in the meantime, we have withdrawn our naval vessels from Spanish waters, have permitted a considerable number of the clerical personnel of our Embassy and Consulates to depart, and have given our officers discretionary authority to leave also. We feel sure that the Austrian Government will appreciate that in the circumstances, we are reluctant to assume unconditional responsibility for the protection of its nationals since we could give no assurance as to how long we might be able to afford such protection. In view of our inability to assume more complete responsibility [Page 710] for the protection of Austrian nationals, and the possibility that the situation may become more critical, it is suggested that the Austrian Government may wish to consider the advisability of requesting some other Government to undertake the protection of its nationals.
For your confidential information this telegram has been repeated to Madrid.