251.11 Insull, Samuel/358a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Greece (MacVeagh)

17. I instructed the Under Secretary today to request the Greek Minister to come to the Department to discuss the Insull case. Mr. Phillips told the Minister that we could not understand the failure of the Greek Government to give effect to its repeated formal assurances, the latest of which was given to you on February 16th, that Insull would be expelled. The Under Secretary pointed out that the situation had again developed into the old vicious circle of assurances being followed by medical examinations and the latter by extensions of the fugitive’s residence permit.

The Minister was informed that a certain member of Congress recently expressed concern over the view which he says prevails in his district and elsewhere in the country that the Department has lost interest in the Insull case and is not making proper effort to bring about a solution, and of his desire to make a speech in the House with a view to defending the Department’s handling of the case.

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Mr. Phillips further explained that press representatives are continually making inquiries as to the status of the case and that public opinion is fast reaching the point where unless prompt and definite action is taken the Secretary would be obliged to state the failure of the Greeks to carry out the voluntary assurances repeatedly given to you.

If the Greek Government refers to Insull’s difficulty in obtaining visas for entry into other countries you may state that it is our understanding that no visas are required to enter the following countries: Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Siam, Sweden and Switzerland; and that the following countries apparently require neither travel documents nor visas: Cuba, Free City of Danzig, Dominican Republic, Haiti, British Honduras, Iceland, Panama and Paraguay.

I wish you to bring the foregoing promptly to the attention of the Prime Minister.

Hull