740.00115 E.W. 1939/11–1544: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
3928. American Interests—Germany. Reurtel 7540 November 15.40 Department notes the German Government has agreed in principle to a civilian exchange to occur before Christmas, that the German Government will transmit through the protecting power a list of German nationals in the United States to be repatriated, and that German Government will give consideration to the list of Americans transmitted by the Swiss Government in so far as possible in view of the short time available.
The Mexican Government has been informed of the statement made by the German Government in regard to the Mexican-German exchange.
In regard to the last sentence of paragraph 3 of your reference telegram in which the German Government states that it expects that there would be included in this exchange a larger group of persons from Bergen-Belsen, Swiss are requested to take up matter on following basis:
- (1)
- It has already been proposed that 50 to 75 such persons be included in the present exchange.
- (2)
- This Government is prepared to proceed immediately with its proposal for a Paraguayan-German exchange covering a large group of persons falling within the category of those at Bergen-Belsen.
- (3)
- There is under consideration by the Colombian and United States Government, an exchange of Colombian and German nationals similar to the proposed Paraguayan-German exchange. This proposal will involve some 300 persons on both sides.
This Government feels that the above proposals adequately cover the German Government’s expectations in regard to the exchange of the Latin-American groups at Bergen-Belsen. Accordingly, this Government sees no reason to alter its present proposal for a civilian exchange, especially as there is no lack of candidates in categories A, B, C, D and E.
With reference to (1) above, the Department cannot help seeing in the present situation, which may endanger the success of the exchange negotiations, a further unfortunate effect of the earlier inability of the Swiss to find a means of presenting to the German Government the proposals for a Paraguayan-German exchange. Madrid’s 3708, November 9, 6 p.m.42 which was repeated to you (reurtel 7302, November 3, 8 a.m.42), would seem to clear the way for prompt and urgent action on the part of the Swiss Government in regard to the proposed Paraguayan-German exchange. If you have not already done so, you should communicate contents of Madrid’s 3708 to Swiss Foreign Office and emphasize the desirability of prompt action in bringing this proposal to the attention of the German Government.
In view of transportation and communication difficulties within Germany, please request the Swiss Government to volunteer to have its representatives assist the Germans in assembling candidates for the exchange by notifying those non-interned Americans approved for inclusion of their selection for repatriation and by assisting them in reaching the assembly point or points designated by the Germans.