German Agencies Indulge In Improper Activities

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 143, 18 June 1941, Page 5

German Agencies Indulge In Improper Activities

EMBASSY STAFF UNAFFECTED United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, June 16. The State Department has ordered the closing of ail German consulates in the United States, the German Library of Information, the Railway Tourist Bureau, and the Tranocean News Agency, and the removal of all German nationals connected with tb,ose agencies. | The Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, said that the order closing the consulates did not imply a break in diplomatic relations. The German diplomatic staff at Washington was not affected. The State Department has the following Note: —“It lias come to the knowledge of this Government that agencies of the German Reich in this country, including German consular establishments, have been engaged in activities wholly outside the scope of their legitimate duties. These activities have been of an improper and unwar- i ranted character. They render the ■ continued presence in the United States of these agencies and consular j establishments inimical to the welfare j of this country. * ’ The United States is negotiating j with Brazil for the construction of air 1 bases on the Brazilian coast for use in an emergency. An official of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington re- j vealed that the United States plans to lend Brazil £21,350,000 to construct the bases. •

United States Army officials at Honolulu to-day disclc.~ed plans for the construction of a huge food-storage tunnel 6000 feet long, equipped with its own power and water, on Oahu Island. The tunnel can be used as an emer- j geney air raid shelter. The cost is estimated at 750,000 dollars, and construction will begin on August 1 and will tako until September. The Senate to-day passed a measure providing 250-million dollars for de- . fence highways and access roads to military and naval reservations.