Office of the Historian

340.1115A/1046: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Weddell)19

Washington, July 2, 1940—6 p.m.

127. Following received from Legation, Lisbon:

“96, July 1, 6 p.m. In connection sailing of Manhattan and various Export Line ships Portuguese Government has agreed to issue blanket transit visaes to groups of Americans coming from southern France and Spain but asks that our Consular officers in Marseille, Bayonne, Bilbao, et cetera, be instructed to make lists of American citizens with the greatest care and detail and to vouch personally for each person on the list. Suggest that these various Consular officers be instructed to get in touch at once with their Portuguese colleagues and with the agents of the steamship companies who have been informed.”

You will, of course, take such action as is possible and appropriate in the circumstances. While the Department cannot authorize you to vouch personally for each person, you should exercise every care to include only bona fide Americans destined for the United States, and you may inform your Portuguese colleague that the Department is endeavoring to facilitate in every possible way transit of Americans proceeding to Lisbon to embark for the United States.

Repeat to Consul at Bilbao.

Hull
  1. The same, on the same date, to the Consul at Bordeaux (No. 459) and the Consul at Marseille (No. 62).↩