Office of the Historian

710.Consultation (2)/260: Telegram

The Chargé in Guatemala (Cabot) to the Secretary of State

Guatemala City, July 11, 1940—3 p.m.
[Received 8:40 p.m.]

67. Department’s telegram No. 54, July 10, 6 p.m. The Foreign Office has already sent me a copy of the German Minister’s note of [Page 798] July 1 evidently as a result of publication of the same story in last night’s local newspapers.

The note argues against proposed substitution of American for European products in American markets because only Europe and Germany in particular can receive this hemisphere’s products in payment.

It states that Germany would consider the utilization by any American state of the German vessels laid up in American ports an unneutral attitude incompatible with friendly relations.

It concludes by saying that Germany hopes that the conference will pursue a policy of neutrality and will not adopt measures directly or indirectly aimed at Germany.

I was informed last night that the German Minister has sent a strong protest to the Foreign Office regarding the Schlesinger pamphlet52 intimating that Germany will take commercial reprisals after the war if her protests are not heeded. I hope [I will?] be given a copy of this note also.

Cabot
  1. El Anna Secreta: La Quinta Columna, by Alfredo Schlesinger (814.00–N/95).↩