340.1115A/2247a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Morris)
2809. Reference Department’s No. 954, September 18, 8 p.m. to Rome which Rome was requested to repeat to you.44 The British and Italian Governments have agreed in principle to the proposals put forward by this Government but no response whatsoever has yet been forthcoming from the German Government. In the meantime, German nationals have in general not been permitted to leave the United States but exceptions have been made in certain meritorious cases.
At the time the above-mentioned proposals were put forward, the Department was under the impression from your No. 3181, August 14,45 that the German authorities were as a matter of policy refusing to issue exit permits and transit visas for American citizens desiring [Page 430] to depart from or pass through Germany and German-occupied territories. Cases have recently come to the Department’s attention, however, of some American nationals who have been permitted to leave Germany and German-occupied territory. Specifically, the Department refers to the cases of Mrs. Laura Kallman (your No. 3006, July 29, and Department’s No. 2282, August 22), and Miss Gloria Seidel (Department’s No. 2423, September 15 and your No. 3983, November 4).46
Please inform the Department whether in your opinion the action of the German authorities in permitting these persons, and perhaps others, to leave Germany and German-occupied territory represents (1) a change in the German Government’s policy with respect to the issuance of exit permits and transit visas to American citizens, or (2) exceptions on the German Government’s own initiative in meritorious cases, or (3) the result of intercession, old or new, on the part of the Embassy in such cases.
Please also inform the Department whether in your opinion the German authorities, pending arrangements of a broader nature which must await the German Government’s acceptance in principle of the proposals referred to in the Department’s telegram No. 954, September 18, to Rome, would consider making exceptions in cases which the Department or you may consider especially meritorious if requested to do so in a spirit of reciprocity for the action of this Government in permitting certain German nationals to leave the United States.
If you consider it advisable you may informally seek information on the foregoing from appropriate German official sources.