840.48 Refugees/1121: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson)
Washington, December 16, 1938—7
p.m.
790. For Rublee. Your 1441, December 16, 3 p.m.
- (1)
- I feel very strongly that it would be inadvisable to have an American official serve on the first Committee that you mentioned, quite apart from the fact that there is no qualified official available for immediate service.
- (2)
- It might be possible to arrange for an American banker to serve on this Committee but he would have no more than a general knowledge of the financial technicalities involved, without background of Treasury procedure, Treasury opinion, or the considerations of policy of interest to other branches of our Government. I therefore see no immediate advantage in trying to arrange for the attendance of an American banker though if you feel strongly on the point I shall be glad to give this possibility further consideration.
- (3)
- As soon as the detailed plan foreshadowed in your 1440 has been received we shall arrange for a joint conference of State and Treasury [Page 876] officials to consider the points involved and will telegraph you without delay our reaction.
- (4)
- With regard to the second Committee mentioned in your 1441, we are already in touch with the President’s Advisory Committee in New York and will telegraph you as soon as it has agreed to designate a representative.
Welles