840.48 Refugees/2010
The Secretary of State to the Lithuanian Minister (Zadeikis)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of December 8, 1939, in which you describe the grave problem caused by the influx into Lithuania of refugees in great numbers from Poland, request that approximately 10,000 of these refugees be admitted into the United States on a temporary basis for the duration of the war and ask that their transportation and maintenance be provided for, presumably by American organizations.
[Page 159]I assure you that the American Government and people have a deep appreciation of the difficulties with which the Lithuanian Government and people are beset as a consequence of the chaotic entry into their country of the many thousands of persons fleeing from Poland and wish to do everything practicable to be of assistance to your country in this time of trial. It is my understanding that American organizations such as the Red Cross and the Commission for Polish Relief are bending every effort to relieve the immediate suffering by sending money and supplies and that arrangements are being made by private American agencies for the feeding of, and medical assistance to, the refugees.
The American Government thoroughly appreciates, moreover, your Government’s position that temporary relief will not suffice and that large numbers of the refugees should be emigrated from Lithuania at the earliest possible moment if the economic and social dangers inherent in the situation are to be avoided. This Government regrets, however, that it will not be possible, under the law, to comply with your suggestion that 10,000 refugees be admitted immediately on a temporary basis for the duration of the war.
With regard to temporary admissions into the United States, the law does not permit consular officers to issue visitors’ visas to applicants unable to establish that they are non-immigrant temporary visitors within the meaning of section 3 (2) of the Act of 1924.89 In order to qualify for a visitor’s visa, an applicant must establish that he does not intend to come to the United States as an immigrant for permanent or extended residence, that he intends to enter the United States for a temporary period only on business or pleasure and that he intends upon the conclusion of his visit to return to his home country or to proced to some other country, having travel documents valid for entry into such country. Persons classifiable as immigrants may not be granted visitors’ visas, and must after establishing that they are admissible into the United States under the immigration laws as immigrants, await their turns to receive visas.
The refugees from Poland now residing in Lithuania may communicate with the Legation at Kaunas regarding their status under the immigration laws of the United States. Applicants able to meet the requirements of the law for classification as non-immigrants may apply for visitors’ visas if they so desire and consideration will be given to their cases. The attached sheet contains general information regarding the issuance of immigration visas and lists the categories of persons for whom the law provides non-quota status or preference status within the quota. Immigrants not entitled to non-quota status or to preference status will be required to await their [Page 160] turns as non-preference immigrants under the quota for the country of their birth. Owing to the large registered demand against the quota for Poland, considerable time is likely to elapse before applicants chargeable to that quota who have only recently registered may have final consideration given to their cases. Applicants found to come within the categories of persons for whom the law provides non-quota status or preference status within the quota may, if able to meet the requirements of the immigration laws, have prompt consideration given to their cases.
This Government is not, in short, unmindful of the urgent necessity of emigrating refugees from Eastern Europe. I need only cite the fact that the President, in addressing the officers of the Intergovernmental Committee on Political Refugees recently, urged the Committee to redouble its efforts to find, survey and prepare places of settlement for millions of refugees who will have to leave Europe in the wake of the war. I may mention that the Committee together with the International Coordinating Foundation, under the Presidency of M. van Zeeland, is examining, with a view to early exploitation, various large-scale settlement projects which will be available to refugees without distinction as to country of origin or religion or race.
Accept [etc.]
- 43 Stat. 153.↩