Office of the Historian

840.48 Refugees/1874: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)82

Washington, October 2, 1939—midnight.

1140. Your 1868, September 29, 7 p.m. We agree with the view of the British Government that for various reasons it is impracticable for the Intergovernmental Committee to continue to facilitate direct emigration from Germany. First, Wohlthat has made it clear in his message that the German plan discussed with the Committee no longer stands and that Germany has returned to a policy of forcing out involuntary emigrants with little more than the clothes on their backs. Second, it is no longer possible to pay transportation of involuntary emigrants in German marks which throws a very considerable added burden on private financing groups, which, these groups, we understand, are not prepared to assume. Third, it is understood that all able-bodied citizens of both sexes inside Germany have been mobilized for war work, with the consequence that only dependents, that is, children and old people, could be evacuated to other lands where they would become objects of charity at a time when charitable resources are strained to the utmost. Accordingly, this Government agrees with the British Government that in view of the outbreak of war no practical effect can be given to Part I of the Evian definition of persons coming within the Mandate of the Committee.

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While we agree that it is not feasible to bring these people out of Germany to any extent at this time, we do not wish to associate ourselves in any statement that Part I of the definition has been abandoned. It will be the policy of this Government to continue to grant visas to persons inside Germany who can comply with American regulations and to admit them to the United States within the limits of the existing quota. Naturally the British and other belligerents have complete liberty to say for their part that Part I of the Committee’s Mandate is suspended so far as they are concerned for the duration of the conflict.

Hull
  1. Marginal notation: “Approved by Mr. Taylor.”↩