548.D1/204
The Secretary of State to the Secretary General of the High Commission for Refugees ( Jewish and Other ) Coming From Germany ( Wurfbain )63
The Secretary of State of the United States of America refers to the letter, dated December 4, 1934,64 from the Secretary General of the High Commission for Refugees (Jewish and Other) coming from Germany, and takes pleasure in transmitting the following comments [Page 416] with respect to the six recommendations adopted by the Governing Body of the High Commission during its session in London on November 1 and 2, 1934.65
1) Retraining of Refugees.
As this recommendation appears to apply primarily to the retraining of refugees now residing in countries adjacent to Germany, the American Government considers that any comment thereon from it would be without significance.
2) Passports and Permission to Reside.
No provision exists under American law for the issuance or renewal of documents of identity or travel to aliens by authorities of the Government of the United States. However, aliens, whether refugees or not, who have the status of aliens admitted legally into the United States for permanent residence, may apply to the American Department of Labor for reentry permits which will be sufficient for return to the United States without a passport or other travel document. A reentry permit is valid for one year in the first instance and its validity may be extended by the Department of Labor for periods of six months upon a showing of adequate cause for the extension.
3) Relations of the High Commission to the League of Nations.
In view of the fact that the United States is not a member of the League of Nations, it is assumed that no comment is anticipated from this Government on recommendation No. 3.
4) Permission to Work.
Aliens entering the United States temporarily are generally not permitted to accept employment. Aliens who have been legally admitted for permanent residence are not prohibited from accepting employment.
5) Extension to Refugees Who are Destitute of the Benefit of the Provisions in the Country for Public Assistance.
In general, the benefits of Federal relief and assistance are extended in deserving cases to aliens lawfully residing in the United States, as well as to American citizens.
6) Opinion of the Governing Body Concerning the Resolutions Adopted by it.
The American Government concurs in the view of the Governing Body that resolutions passed by the Governing Body do not engage the responsibility of interested Governments until they approve them.
- Sent to the Chargé in the United Kingdom for transmittal, as an enclosure to instruction No. 687, January 24, 1935, not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1934, vol. ii, pp. 317 ff.↩