852.5151/278: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8 p.m.]
763. When letters from the United States addressed to American citizens in Spain are found by the censor to contain checks on foreign banks a printed slip is inserted into the envelope directing the recipient to surrender the check within 8 days to the Exchange Control Office. Upon taking up the matter with that office I was first informed that American citizens who so preferred would be permitted upon application to return such checks. This permission, however, has been refused in one instance and the Exchange Control Office now states that also foreign exchange of this nature must be surrendered to it.
The basis for this action is said to be a decree issued in 1931. It would seem, however, that no domestic decree should apply to transactions not in any way affecting it, and that the ruling described is tantamount to confiscation of American property. Have you any instructions?