840.48 Refugees/2010
The Lithuanian Minister (Zadeikis) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Directed by my Government and referring to my note of November 30, 1939,87 I have the honor to invite the attention of the American Government to the grave problem of Polish refugees in Lithuania, and to emphasize the economic and political aspects of that problem, also the urgent necessity of its early solution because it is likely to jeopardize the welfare and peace of my country, as its economic resources are already too heavily taxed.
It is evident that Lithuania’s geographic position in a major degree is responsible for the existing conditions. A vast number of Polish refugees, among them a considerable number of Jews, came streaming into neutral and peaceful Lithuania, which, unfortunately, is not strong enough to be immune from some outside developments and not wealthy enough to disregard the sharing of her limited resources. Through no fault of ours, we are penalized in such a degree that the Lithuanian Government is compelled to solicit aid from other neutral and economically more fortunate countries.
As a great majority of the Polish refugees in Lithuania hope to return to their homeland after the war is over and only a small number of them evince any desire to emigrate, the task of my Government to find a solution of the refugee problem becomes even more difficult.
Because of the fact that a great number of Polish refugees have relatives in the United States of America and, therefore, if accorded temporary abode in this country would not aggravate America’s unemployment situation in any marked degree, I have the honor, on behalf of my Government, to submit most respectfully a request that approximately ten thousand refugees be taken care of by bringing them from Lithuania to the United States for a temporary stay until the war, affecting their country, is over, and providing them with necessary funds and transportation facilities.
[Page 158]The Lithuanian Government ventures to express a hope that ways and means will be found so that such assistance, the only real and substantial contribution to the solution of the existing refugee problem, can be realized and the American traditional hospitality extended to less fortunate peoples will be demonstrated once more.
In submitting this appeal of my Government to you, I have the honor to request respectfully that I be informed as soon as the United States Government has made a decision concerning this matter.
Accept [etc.]
- Not printed.↩