701.0090/11¼
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. L. Randolph Higgs of the Division of European Affairs
Mr. Solanko came in to see me this afternoon. He inquired as to the reasons for an announcement he said had been made by the American Legation in Helsinki advising American citizens that the last opportunity for them to return to the United States would be provided when the Swedish steamship Gripsholm leaves Goteborg at the end of this month.82 The manner in which Mr. Solanko phrased his inquiry indicated clearly that he suspected some political implication in the announcement.
I told Mr. Solanko that I had not previously heard of any such announcement and could not therefore make any specific comments regarding the matter. It was my opinion, however, that the announcement was another in the series, and probably the last of such [Page 57] announcements, issued by American Consulates and Missions in Europe since August 1939. I went on to say that as difficulties in Europe for American citizens had increased and as facilities for their return to the United States became available, it was our policy to advise all American citizens who could do so to return to the United States.
Mr. Solanko inquired why no such announcement had been issued before the recent sailing of the Drottningholm. I replied that I presumed it was because of the shortness of time between the receipt of information that German authorities would permit Americans to sail on the ship and its departure.
In order not to ease his mind too much, I cautioned Mr. Solanko on his departure that what I had said in the foregoing connection was based upon supposition, and that other factors unknown to me might possibly be involved.
- The Gripsholm and Drottningholm were exchange ships used for repatriation of American officials and other American citizens from Europe in accordance with agreements with the German and Italian Governments. For correspondence on this subject, see vol. i, pp. 285–377.↩