840.48 Refugees/1032: Telegram
The Minister in the Netherlands (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 2—11:48 a.m.]
153. In discussing the question of German Jewish refugees with me the Foreign Minister indicated that he was under the impression that if the Dutch should permit a limited number of refugees to reside temporarily in Holland for a maximum period of 2 years our consular officers could give definite assurances as to the eventual admission of these refugees into the United States, and inquired whether this impression was correct. I told him that I could not give an authoritative answer; I did not see offhand how assurances of a completely definite nature could be given, particularly for a period as long as 2 years, but that it was possible that a procedure might be devised which would in practice be almost tantamount to such assurances—i. e., whose effect would be that of a reasonably limited number of refugees who might be allowed provisional sojourn in Holland for a maximum period of say a year, only a negligible percentage would be left on the hands of the Dutch at the end of such period.
Doctor Patijn requested me to ask the Department if the Dutch Government were to allow Jewish refugees such temporary residence what our Government might be prepared to do to bring about their departure from the Netherlands and their admission to the United States at or before the end of a 2 or a 1 year period; if there were any action in this case which we could take to what approximate number of Jewish refugees would we consider making it applicable?