862.4016/1856: Telegram (part air)
The Chargé in Germany (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 21—8:44 a.m.]
638. In respect of the position of Jews in Germany the Embassy is continuously engaged at the present time on two counts:
- (a)
- respecting American Jews, to accord them protection to obtain reimbursement for such property losses as have been sustained and to take steps that they may be accorded a position in general on the same footing as that of other foreigners and in particular in conformity with plan of the German-American Treaty of December 8, 1923;
- (b)
- to consider in a more general way and in the spirit of official pronouncements at Washington what may best be done to alleviate the situation of German Jews in Germany.
As part of the picture here American Jews are frequently received at the Embassy where they state their situation and at the same time express their opinions as to what practical measures might best relieve their situation and also as to what developments in Germany and abroad currently affects that solution. Non-American Jews with whom American officials are informally in contact also express their views along similar lines. Quite apart from the element of the natural sympathy involved I feel it most expedient and indeed incumbent on me thus to become as conversant as possible with the pertinent opinions of the unfortunate individuals directly concerned. Naturally the situation is undergoing constant change. I transmit nevertheless what appears to be the consensus of opinion of responsible individuals in both of the categories mentioned above on two points which are at the moment of concern to them. I may add that in these conversations the wish was expressed that I would acquaint you with their thoughts.
- 1.
- They feel that the urgent problem here is to obtain the release of the Jews now held in concentration camps, and affording similar relief [Page 404] to others in like jeopardy. This as far as can be seen at present can be adequately accomplished only by their removal by some means from Germany. In this respect they give consideration to some possible activity on the part of the London Refugee Committee. The so called “Dutch project”64 which has furthermore come to their attention through the international press suggests to them that steps are being contemplated for obtaining for them permits for temporary residence in certain European countries pending their eventual settlement elsewhere. They express the hope that seen in the light of an urgent emergency measure effective organized efforts along these or similar lines may be made.
- 2.
- There is a growing universal expression of apprehension lest anti-German incidents and expressions in other countries may cause renewed action against them here. In this respect in their extreme anxiety they naturally regard such happenings in their practical aspects as affecting them rather than in a general moral light. On this score several have noted in a recent number of the Paris edition of the New York Herald Tribune an account of a reported movement of Americans to provide a fund for the legal defense of Grynszpan. They express regret that the action of Grynszpan which they from every point of view condemn and deplore is thus by inference at least condoned. They do not wish to appear to be associated despite the storming [stormy?] circumstances with anything but unqualified condemnation of the act itself. They feel moreover again having regard to their own situation that anything even susceptible of interpretation as a condoning of Grynszpan’s act and as attempt to influence French justice would serve definitely to cloud the main issue and to impair to their disadvantage the effectiveness of international indignation over anti-Jewish excesses.
Copy to London for Rublee.
- See telegram No. 145, November 16, 5 p.m., from the Chargé in the Netherlands, vol. i, p. 826.↩