[Messersmith, G.S.], [Washington]. To Raymond H. Geist, Berlin., 1939 March 08

Acknowledges letter of Jan. 31 commenting alien clerks in U.S. consular offices; has discussed Senator [William H.] Smathers' bill with him only briefly over telephone; doubts bill would pass, but hopes Smathers will just forget it; does not take situation seriously, but Smathers not the only one raising question; inquiries come in from Members of Congress regarding aliens in U.S. establishments abroad; most complaints arise out of immigration cases and the visa practice; alien clerks very useful and most of them faithful, but any of them can be turned into spies by pressures authoritarian regimes can exert; wants consular establishments to keep alien clerks, but urges watchfulness; Quakers, through Dr. [Rufus M.] Jones and Clarence E.] Pickett, approached Department recently and offered to send American College boys and girls to Germany at their expense to work in consulates for modest salary; told them Department wouldn't consider it; in view of all Quakers had in mind in Europe, not good policy for them to press matter.