840.48 Refugees/955a: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to
Certain Diplomatic Missions in the American
Republics62
Washington, November 22,
1938—noon.
Department’s circular, July 19, 5 p.m. You will please obtain an early
interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and leave with him a
memorandum concerning the present situation with respect to political
refugees in Europe. You should state that you would appreciate having the
comment of the Government to which you are accredited at the earliest
convenient moment in order that you may inform your Government thereof.
Please report by telegram
[Page 837]
upon the
results of your interview and telegraph any subsequent reply received from
the Foreign Minister. The text of the memorandum which you are to present
follows:
- “1. Owing to the urgency arising from the latest developments
affecting political refugees in Europe, the President of the
united States has asked Mr. Myron Taylor, the representative of
the United States on the Intergovernmental Committee on
Political Refugees, to go again to London to attend a full
meeting of that Committee which is expected to be called in
mid-December. The Government of the United States expresses the
earnest hope that your Excellency’s Government will find it
possible to be represented at the December meeting of the
Intergovernmental Committee and will be prepared to take an
effective part in that meeting.
- 2. It is hoped that at the time of the December meeting of the
Intergovernmental Committee on Political Refugees the British
and a number of other governments will be in a position to make
public statements concerning the places which those governments
will make available for the settlement of involuntary emigrants
and the number of such emigrants that they are prepared to
take.
- 3. One of the principal points to be considered at the meeting
of the Committee will be measures to insure that these
unfortunate and involuntary emigrants will not be a financial
burden on the domestic economies of the countries of settlement.
The Government of the United States is of the opinion that there
are few if any countries which could not advantageously accept
substantial numbers of these people. It is rather to be
anticipated that absorption of the special skills, intellect and
energy of these people, especially if they bring with them a
reasonable, it limited amount of new capital, would be of
definite benefit to the receiving country through the
development of new fields of activity.
- 4. The Government of the United States is prepared to make a
specific statement as to the number of involuntary emigrants
which it can accept, and it sincerely hopes that the governments
of the other American republics will find it possible to make
similar statements. It is, of course, understood that no country
will be asked or expected to accept a larger number of emigrants
than is permitted by its existing laws and regulations. However,
it is hoped that, with this limitation, all of the governments
of the American continent will be in a position to make a
specific and generous statement which will reflect the warm
human sympathy which all of our peoples must feel for the tragic
situation of their fellow men and women.
- 5. In connection with the possible public statements referred
to in paragraph 4 of this memorandum, the Government of the
United States considers it pertinent to point out that this
appeal is made on broad humanitarian grounds and that those who
are affected, regardless of race or religious belief, have not
been free to think their own thoughts, to express their own
feelings or to worship God according to the dictates of their
own consciences. The republics of this hemisphere, which were
founded in defense of essential human liberties, surely cannot
but view with sympathy the opportunity to take constructive
action to meet the present situation.”
[Page 838]
Many countries may be prepared to accept larger numbers of involuntary
emigrants than they are willing publicly to admit. It is desired that the
Governments represented on the Committee make specific public statements of
the numbers they will accept, which will be of value not only in providing
actual opportunities for settlement but also as an example to other
governments. It is nevertheless desired to leave open the possibility for
any government which wishes to do so to make an additional strictly
confidential statement of what it is prepared to do. You are requested to
convey the substance of this paragraph orally to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
