340.1115A/685: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 24—5:25 p.m.]
1362. Your 960, May 23. With regard to aliens, we have a few cases where inability to take foreign nurses will cause serious hardship, or even prevent Americans from leaving. Some cases involve small children being sent home in care of a governess; others involve invalids unable to travel without a nurse. At least one is a stretcher case. May we use discretion in authorizing passage at individual expense of course, for foreign attendants, where these attendants, in our opinion, are necessary to enable the passenger to make the trip? The United States Lines began to accept bookings this afternoon and reservations are being made rapidly. We do not anticipate any difficulty in filling this ship, although some persons state that they are unable to pay the fares asked. Dublin reports that out of approximately 600 desiring repatriation in Eire, not more than 100 can afford to pay $300. The steamship offices are remaining open over the week-end to facilitate bookings. We expect to have figures by Monday night. We will book the ship full and then notify you of the number still awaiting transportation.
I question the wisdom of attempting to put one thousand people on the Roosevelt unless the situation is truly desperate. The ship apparently can accommodate 655 above decks. Any people carried in excess of that number will have to be accommodated in the hold. Three quarters of those going home are women and children, including many babies. There are also many elderly people. I do not believe that these people can be put in the between decks, except in the direst kind of emergency. Unless the [Department?] decrees otherwise, we will not put women and children in the hold unless bombing has actually started.
We will turn the ship around as quickly as possible. There may be some difficulty with regard to tenders, but we hope to get the ship out within 36 hours.