840.48 Refugees/919: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 19—10:15 a.m.]
1334. From Rublee. Your rush number 710, November 18. Pell handed a copy of your announcement with regard to Mr. Taylor’s visit to London to the Foreign Office last night, and discussed the substance of your 713, November 18, 7 p.m., this morning.
1. The Foreign Office wishes to do whatever will be agreeable to us, but it pointed out that the invitations for the meeting of officers on November 28 have already been communicated to the French and Dutch Governments. Furthermore, the press has been told that the meeting will take place in the next fortnight and a statement to that effect has been made in Parliament. Winterton has engagements out of London throughout the first week in December so that a postponement would mean that the meeting of the officers could [Page 834] not be held until the second week in December, which would be an inordinately long delay.
The suggestion is made that the meeting of the officers take place as scheduled on November 28 for the purpose of considering whether it would be advisable at this time to hold a full meeting of the Committee. If it was agreed that a full meeting should be held, it would take place during the second week in December, after Mr. Taylor’s arrival.
Some hesitation was expressed with regard to the proposal to hold a full meeting of the Committee. It was felt that unless assurances could be obtained in advance that the representatives of the countries of settlement would do more at the meeting than repeat the statements which they made at Evian, or maintain a discreet silence as they did at the London meeting in August, it would have an unfortunate effect. Moreover, certain delegates might be tempted to make statements critical of Germany which would end all possibility of negotiations with the German Government. In any event, the whole situation will be canvassed and a more definite reply will be given early next week.
2. With regard to a British commitment in respect to numbers which the British Empire will be willing to receive, it was said that the replies from the various colonial governors will probably be received by Monday and that the Prime Minister would indicate in his statement to the House of Commons what the nature of the British commitment may be.
3. Since the meeting of the officers of the Committee in August the French Government has not even acknowledged communications from this office or from the Secretary of the Committee. The British have made inquiries at the French Foreign Office which says that it has not heard from Berenger since the meeting in August and has no knowledge on this Committee or its work, with the exception of the request which was made through American Embassy at Paris that the French Ambassador at Berlin should join in the démarche to the German Government. The French Government has not made its financial contribution to the Committee and, according to indications which the British have received, has taken no steps to prepare to make its contribution.
4. Regarding the Latin American Republics, the Secretary of the Committee is uncertain as to the present status of Haiti and Nicaragua in addition to the three republics mentioned by you. These governments had no representatives at the London meeting and have not replied to any communications addressed to them by the Secretary. [Rublee.]