840.48 Refugees/790: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:20 p.m.]
1126. For the Secretary and Under Secretary from Rublee. I conferred with Winterton this morning, at his request. He said that it was his view and the view of the British Foreign Office that Pell should proceed to Berlin immediately for the purpose of feeling out the situation with regard to involuntary emigrants with the officials directly concerned of the German Government. He pointed out that the visit of Pell would not require a formal request to the German Government that he be received since he would go to Berlin merely to place himself at the disposal of the American and British Embassies to answer questions which German officials might wish to raise with regard to [Page 793] the aims of the Intergovernmental Committee. At an appropriate moment later a formal inquiry would be made of the German Government as to whether it was willing to receive the Director and if the answer was in the affirmative, I would proceed to Berlin and actually negotiate.
I agreed with Winterton that the present moment which seemed auspicious for negotiation should not be missed and that a move should be made without further delay. I was inclined to believe, however, that I should go to Berlin without further preparation, at least for exploratory conversations with the German officials and that our Government and the British Government should be requested to instruct the American and British Ambassadors at Berlin to inquire of the German Government whether it was prepared to receive me.
I took occasion to emphasize to Winterton moreover the importance of including a solution of the problem of involuntary emigration in a general settlement and urged him to bring this matter directly to the attention of the Prime Minister at the earliest occasion. Winterton replied that general conversations would not take place for 2 or 3 months. The Prime Minister was leaving almost immediately for a much needed vacation. Then there would be the opening of Parliament so that discussions between Foreign Ministers or others would probably not occur until December at the earliest. Winterton said that he had discussed the importance of a settlement of the refugee problem with Lord Halifax, who was the proper Minister to raise the question with the Prime Minister, and Lord Halifax had promised to keep the refugee situation in view.
At the conclusion of his conversation, Winterton suggested that Pell should see the official of the Foreign Office who now has this matter in chargé in the absence of Makins who is with the British delegation at Berlin. Pell later saw this official who said that very confidential information had reached them that the German Government would be unwilling to receive me unless I could present a plan worked out in detail for placing involuntary emigrants in countries of settlement together with complete suggestions as to what arrangements of a financial and economic nature the countries outside Germany would be willing to make if the German Government were to agree to release a portion of their property to involuntary emigrants. The official observed that quite obviously the plan, in spite of some progress, had not been worked out in sufficient detail to enable me to approach the German Government and that as a consequence if a formal inquiry were to be addressed to the German Government at this time with regard to my reception, the answer would probably be in the negative and this would close the door to further negotiation. It was felt that Pell, without committing the Committee in any way, could outline [Page 794] the general purpose of it to the appropriate officials in Germany and hear any views which they might wish to express while I at London pressed negotiations for a plan of settlement with the commissioners of the Dominions and the diplomatic representatives of the participating governments. He said that the Foreign Office could not advise another procedure and hoped that our Government would at least give it favorable consideration.
Please inform Taylor of the contents of this telegram. [Rublee.]