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Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1941, Page 5

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ALL GERMAN CONSULAR OFFICES IN UNITED STATES

On Account of Action Against American Interests ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL ORDER BOMBSHELL AT PRESS CONFERENCE LONDON, .June 16. The United States has taken swift and drastic action to clear out Nazi agents throughout the country. All German consulates are to be closed down and their staffs expelled, together with all German nationals connected with the German Library of Information, German railway and tourist agencies and the German Trans-Ocean News Service. Mr Sumner Welles, Assistant Secretary of State, who announced this decision at a Press conference, said action was being taken because German Consular officials and other Nazi agents were acting against the interests of the United States. The decision does not imply a rupture of diplomatic relations and in no way affects the German diplomatic staff in Washington. Mr Welles handed a Note to the Embassy in Washington, stating that members of the German Consular staffs had been engaged in activities wholly outside the scope of their legitimate duties and that their continued presence was inimical to the welfare of the United States. He had been asked by the President to request the withdrawal of those stated, the offices concerned to be promptly closed and all such withdrawals to be effected before July 12. This announcement came as a bombshell to the Press conference, at which representatives of the German news service were present. There are 24 German Consular offices in the United States. President Roosevelt conferred at Washington with defence chiefs. It is believed he considered the speeding- up of supplies of aircraft to Britain.