Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

390.1115A/961a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Egypt (Kirk)

Washington, June 30, 1942—3 p.m.

639. Your 1048, June 22.⁴³ Telegraph briefly nature of evacuation plans referred to in your telegram under reference particularly whether they include provision for non-official American residents of Egypt and if the latter category of persons is included whether your plans provide for their repatriation or merely for removal to a place of temporary refuge. Generally it has been Department’s experience that it is inadvisable to evacuate Americans from their places of residence abroad to points of temporary refuge which, in turn, may be endangered and from which they cannot readily be removed.

Department has conferred with War Shipping Administration regarding availability of American vessels for repatriation or evacuation of American citizens from Egypt and nearby countries, and Admiral Land⁴⁴ has suggested that you discuss with the War Shipping representatives in Egypt means by which Americans may be evacuated. Your joint recommendations in this matter should be promptly submitted. However, should the local situation develop so as to demand immediate action, the War Shipping Administration authorizes you and its representatives jointly to utilize such American shipping as may be available to transport bona fide American citizens to temporary places of refuge provided conditions permit the use of such vessels for this purpose.

Hull

43. Printed in vol. iv, section under Egypt entitled “Concern of the United States regarding effect of Axis military advance into Egypt …”.
44. Rear Adm. Emory S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission.