Evening star., 1941-06-16
Library, Tourist,
And News Offices
Also Are Closed
By GARNETT ID. HORNER.

closed and their employees re-
moved from American territory
by July 10.
Improper activities of the consul
iates and the agencies cited make
them "inimical" to the Nations s well
fare, Undersecretary of State Welles
informed the German Embassy.
The agencies affected, in addition
TO the Nazi consular establishments,
are the German Library of Informa-
ton in New York, the Trans-Ocean
News Service. and the German Rail-
way and Tourists Agencies.
Undersecretary of State Welles
announced at press conference
that he had delivered to a German
Embassy representative this morn
ing a note requesting this action at
the direction of President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Welles said the development
did not mean severance of diplo-
matte relations. The German En-
bassy here and its diplomatic offices
are not affected.
ACtlSltltS
The action was based on activities
of the consular establishments and
the other agencies cited which have
been of an improper and unwar-
ranted character a formal note to
the German Embassy explained.
These activities render the con-
tinued presence in the United States
of those agencies and consular
establishments inimical to the well
fare of this country" it added.
Il am directed by the President" !"
Mr.. WeIleS wrote. Ito request that
the German government remove
from United States territory all
German nationals in any wise con-
nected with the German Library OF
Information in New York. the Ger
man railway and tourist agencies
and the Transocean News Service,
and that each of these organiza-
tions and their afflliates shall be
promptly closed.
Il am also directed to request that
all German consular officers, agents,
clerks and employees thereof of Ger
man nationality shall be removed
from American territory and that
the consular establishments likewise
be promptly closed.
1T is contemplated that all such
Withdrawals and closures shall be
effected before July TO-"
Note Directed to Thomson.
The formal note was directed to
Herr Hans Thomson, Charge DAT
faires of the German Embassy. Mr..
Welles said he had called Dr. Thom-
sen to his Office to deliver the note,
but due to his absence from the
city today had delivered it to Will
helm Tannenberg, First Secretary
of the Embassy.
Mr.. WelIes declined to discuss
details of the activities wholly out
side of the scope of their legitimate
duties" charged to the consuls and
other agencies affected. He referred
questions about sabotage and 9TH
er details to the Justice Depart
ment, which has been investigating
ell such agencies.
Asked if any similar action might
be taken against other countries,
Mr.. Welles said nothing of that
kind was in mind at the moment.
The Government already has di-
rected closing of Italian Consulates
movements of other Italian consular
officials to the territories within
their assigned jurisdiction.
More than a score of German Con-
sulates are affected by the order.
Included among those ordered to
leave the country is Capt. Fritz
Wiedemann, German Consul Gen.
eral at San Francisco, who fire.
quently has been accused of direct
ing widespread Nazi propaganda
activities throughout the United
States and other American coun-
tries.
Baron Won Spiegel Affected.
Also affected by the removal order
Is Baron Edgar Won Spiegel, German
Consul General in New Orleans,
whose alleged statements in news
paper interview last year threaten
ing eventual German retributions
against those opposing Hitler
brought a sharp warning at the time
from Secretary of State Hull against
interference by foreign diplomatic
or consular officials in domestic af-
fairs.
Besides San Francisco and New
Orleans, Germany has maintained
consulates at New York, Baltimore,
Los Angeles, Mobile, Ala; Denver,
Chicago Boston, Detroit, Kansas
City, st. Louis. Buffalo, Cleveland,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland,
Greg; Newport News, Va; Balboa,
and Colon, in the Canal Zone; Hon
olulu, Manila. San Juan and Aqua
dilla in Puerto Rico.
Action against the Trans-Ocean
News Service follows indictment of
its head in this country, Manfred
manager, on charges of violating
the act requiring registration Of
all agents of foreign principals.
The order does not affect D.NB.,
official German news agency. Trans
Ocean. which distributes its service
free to some newspapers in South
America, has been accused Of cper-
ating largely as Nazi propaganda
agency.
The direct action to combat the
subversive activities directed by the
Germans ordered out of the coun-
try, coming on the heels of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's executive order
Saturday freezing all German and
italian assets in the United States.