740.00116 European War 1939/1219: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:13 p.m.]
8236. American Interests, Germany. Your 2681, November 1, Legation’s 7051, November 10, and 7350, November 22.48 Foreign Office official assured Tait49 yesterday afternoon in handing him note dated December 30 in French that this exact translation German Foreign Office note in German to Swiss Legation Berlin except as indicated below.
Following translation:
“Referring to the courteous note A.I. No. 6691, November 8, by which Legation of the United States of America requested Division of Foreign Interests of Federal Political Department to notify German Government of a message from American Government concerning treatment by German authorities of members of armed forces fighting beside United States, the Division has the honor to inform the Legation that according to a letter from Special Division of Swiss Legation Berlin dated December 3, German Foreign Office has stated that it will take no cognizance of this communication on part of American Government and that it considers it as nonexistent. German Foreign Office added that it will return without hesitation every further communication of this nature and it requested Special Division so to inform American Government.”
Tait was informed Swiss Foreign Office deleted words “to the Swiss Legation” which should be inserted between words “return” and “without hesitation”.
[Page 438]This note greatly disturbed Swiss and was subject discussion between Pilet-Golaz50 and De Pury.51 Swiss Foreign Office informally said that it considered it impossible include in note to United States words deleted without embarrassment. Foreign Office official further expressed view present note represents definite indication by German Foreign Office to Swiss Legation not to communicate subsequently such notes. He inquired whether, should there be subsequent similar communications from American Government, these might be communicated by radio.