701.0010/126: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 2—6:11 p.m.]
1868. American interests—exchange negotiations. Reference Legation’s 1801, April 29.91 Department’s 1115, May 1st. Swiss Foreign Office transmits following note verbale April 28 from German Foreign Office to Swiss Legation Berlin:
“Foreign Office informs Swiss Legation as follows: Foreign Office as before takes position that in order to carry out exchange smoothly desirable that entire official exchange groups be exchanged in Lisbon on first voyage of Drottnmgholm. German Government has always considered official exchange groups from countries entering into consideration as an indivisible whole and has only been willing to make exceptions in regard to individual persons. In entire exchange of notes with Swiss Legation the Foreign Office has considered members of official group as an entity. In exchange of notes the persons belonging to official exchange groups have been clearly specified. There belong to these groups not only career diplomats and other career officials but also all other consular and office personnel with their families, also employees and servants of various German representations in foreign countries and recognized press representatives including radio announcers and press photographers, representatives of film companies and members of Chambers of Commerce with their families. German Government would appreciate if Swiss Government would again endeavor to induce American Government to accept German proposal especially possibility of accommodating entire German exchange group on one voyage which according to above mentioned note verbale of Swiss Legation was definitely accepted by the American Government. Inasmuch as a sufficient number of berths are available in addition German Government would like to have it definitely understood that it is not according to German views that higher diplomatic officials should receive preferential treatment.
Should American Government however hold to its proposal not to send whole official exchange group on one voyage but bring them to Europe on two voyages of Drottningholm German Government would withdraw its objections to this procedure in interest of expediting and finally carrying through the exchange. Foreign Office insists however that in this case Counselor Resenberg92 be left in United States with rest of members of German official exchange groups remaining behind. In addition it is pointed out that this is on the obvious understanding that second voyage of Drottningholm would have same status of diplomatic transport as first voyage. German Government asks Swiss Government to undertake special guarantee for carrying out of second voyage of Drottningholm which will bring remaining German members of official group to Europe.
Foreign Office points out that in case plan of American Government is carried out only to transport a part of German official exchange [Page 365] group on first voyage of Drottningholm to Europe only a corresponding part of the official American group from Bad Nauheim would naturally be permitted to proceed to Lisbon even though German Government in no way wishes further presence of former members of American Embassy on German soil and wishes them to depart as soon as possible. Nevertheless in this case on basis of reciprocity a further stay of various members of former American Embassy in Berlin at Bad Nauheim would be unavoidable. The German Government rejects as unfounded the claim of American Government transmitted in note of Swiss Legation that living conditions for American exchange group in Bad Nauheim are difficult.
Finally Foreign Office would appreciate if Swiss Legation would arrange that American Government on its side also induce Portuguese Government to extend its guarantee for exchange not only for exchange of complete group as has been under discussion up to the present but also for exchange of sections of groups.
German Government will grant to citizens of those American states desirous of returning home and who allow German citizens to return the same facilities for return to their country as to citizens of the United States.
German Government is prepared to allow taking hand baggage of returning citizens of American countries in same quantity as proposed by American Government for Germans who return.
Finally German Government confirms that Drottningholm on voyages to be carried out on basis of German-American exchange will neither be held up nor examined by German naval forces or naval forces of countries allied with Germany on all its voyages from New York to Lisbon and return as well as on its last voyage from New York to Göteborg on obvious condition that American Government’s guarantee that Drottningholm on all its voyages in exchange operations will neither be held up nor searched by naval forces of United States be extended to include naval forces of countries allied with United States.”