Evening star., 1941-08-12
Americans in Europe
On Their Own Since
ConsuIs Have Gone
u. 5. Would Have Little
Chance to Help Them il
They Got Into Trouble
BY GARRETT. D. HORNER.

The hundreds Of American citi-
sens remaining in occupied portions
OF Europe were described at the
State Department today as practi-
cally ION their own" with little
chance that their Government
would have opportunity to help
them effectively If they should get
into trouble with the Nazis.
Officials said Germany has been
notified that she will be held strict
ly responsible for any violation of
the rights of Americans in Nazi-
occupied countries. and that this
Government is prepared to inter-
cede in Berlin on behalf of any citi-
zen known to be receiving harsh
treatment.
It is realized, however, that the
Germans might mistreat any num-
Der of Americans without 1t becom-
ing known to this country. now that
United States additional
trouble shooters for citizens abroad
have been expelled from the occu-
pied territories.
No Representatives in Europe.
In occupied France, Belgium, the
Netherlands. Norway, Greece and
Poland. there no longer are any
consular representatives OF this
Government for citizens in trouble
to appeal to for aid. and to keep an
eve on general conditions and well
fare of Americans in their districts
The wholesale expulsion of consuls
last month leaves the State Depart
nnent without any regular source OF
information about conditions in
these occupied territories.
Poland has been a blind spot
since soon after the Nazi conquest
of that country. American consuls
we're expelled July Is from Germany.
italy and the countries they have
occupied in retaliation for this
Governments expulsion of German
and italian consuls from the United
States. We still have diplomatic
mission, but no consular repre-
sentation. in Denmark. Diplomatic
Representatives were kicked out OF
the other occupied countries long
ago. Germany holding that all mat
ters touching on foreign relations
In those areas had to be taken up
through Berlin.
Retaliation Is L. s. Reliance.
Naturally, officials hope German
authorities will respect the rights
of these stranded Americans. One
thing that lends strength to that
hope is that there probably are
more German citizens in this coun-
try than Americans in the occupied
areas. The Nazis are presumed to
realize that If it became known that
they were treating Americans too
roughly, retsliatory measures would
be possible
State Department officials point
out, too. that most of the Ameri-
cans remaining In Europe "on their
own" are doing so by their own
choice. having been warned repeat
edly and given every possible oppor-
tunity to get out of the danger areas
long ago. while it was still possible
TO do so with little difficulty. Many
Of those remaining are naturalized
citizens, who may be considered as
having repatriated themselves in
their native lands. Others are ma
tive Americans who have married
abroad or otherwise so established
themselves in Europe that they pre-
fer to remain there regardless of
the risk
Most Have Returned Already.
Most of those desiring to return
TO this country already have done
50, officials believe, recalling that
special ships were sent to Europe
last year to repatriate all Americans
willing and able to leave. Only last
winter the State Department and
Red Cross helped several hundred
citizens who were more or less des-
titute in unoccupied France to re-
turn.
There is no official estimate of the
number of Americans in Europe
now. The last compilation by the
State Department listed the num-
ber of citizens believed to be living
abroad on January /. Many changes
have occurred since that estimate
was made. At that time 5000
Americans were estimated to be
living in France, but no distinction
was made between the occupied
and unoccupied zones. The largest
number, 14,467, we're listed in Italy,
but large proportion of those were
believed to be naturalized citizens of
italian blood. Other estimates in
eluded Greece, 2,086; Belgium, 578;
The Netherlands, TIA; Norway, 726;
Poland. 239; Denmark, 895, and
Germany itself S111