840.48 Refugees/913: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 17—2 p.m.]
1326. From Rublee. The meeting was held this evening with MacDonald, Winterton, Sir John Schuckburgh and other officials of the Colonial Office.
[Page 829]MacDonald said that a circular had been addressed to various Colonial governors inquiring as to the territory and the living conditions in each respective territory where involuntary emigrants from Germany might be settled. The governors have been asked to report before Tuesday58 when the Prime Minister is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons. The British Government, he said, appreciated the seriousness of the situation and would do everything in its power to facilitate the task of the Intergovernmental Committee.
There was then some discussion of the financing of the emigration and it was considered that while some money would have to come from private Jewish sources the main financing would have to be done through the transfer of the property of involuntary emigrants from Germany.
I thanked MacDonald for the evidence his Department was giving of leadership in this matter and said that I was hopeful that if the British Empire would make a contribution others could be persuaded to follow. MacDonald and Winterton agreed and expressed hope that our Government would do everything in its power now to persuade the Latin American countries to adopt a less negative attitude and make some real contribution. [Rublee.]
- November 22.↩