340.1115A/12–2144: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
4303. Reurtel 7876 December 1, noon,11 American Interests—Balkans. Because of rapidly changing situation Swiss may communicate to their representatives in Balkans by clear telegram or any other practicable manner your decisions extension financial assistance cases. It is hoped that United States representatives in Rumania and Bulgaria may assume work extension financial assistance in those countries in near future. Decisions on cases in Yugoslavia may be sent to Foreign Office with copies to Department. American Embassy Athens and Consulate Salonika have taken over from Swiss extension financial assistance in Greece.12
- Not printed: the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle) reported that the Swiss Foreign Office had no means of communicating with Swiss representatives in Yugoslavia and Greece, and could communicate with representatives in Rumania only by clear telegram and with Bulgaria only by clear and cipher telegram (706.0054/12–144).↩
- The Embassy at Athens was opened to the public on November 15, 1944, and representation of American interests was transferred by the Swiss to that Embassy in a memorandum dated November 15, according to telegram 45, November 15, 1944, from Athens (124.68/11–1544). Allotment for financial assistance to American nationals was granted in telegram 23, November 15, 1944, 9 p.m. (340.1115A/11–1144). Allotment for financial assistance to destitute American nationals in Salonika district was granted in telegram 159, December 30, 1944, 5 p.m., to Athens (340.1115A/12–3044).↩