840.48 Refugees/1651: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 7—6:49 a.m.]
788. From Pell: The meeting referred to in the last paragraph of my 784, June 6, 6 p.m., took place last night. Baerwald and Felix joined Bearsted and Rothschild.
Wohlthat summarized the position inside Germany (the only additional information given by him was that the German authorities estimated the existing Jewish wealth at approximately four billion reichsmarks) and said that he would be willing to answer questions.
Baerwald attempted to keep the discussion on an objective plane but Bearsted and Rothschild proceeded to tax Wohlthat about German propaganda, the activities of the secret police, the fine and so forth. The atmosphere became tense and Wohlthat eventually said [Page 117] that since the other side had been so very frank he would be equally frank and put a straight question: “Would outside people be prepared to finance the program given to Mr. Rublee, in whole or in part?” Bearsted replied with an emphatic “no”. Wohlthat then asked whether they had at any time been prepared to finance the program, in whole or in part. Bearsted replied “no”. Wohlthat rose after remarking that there was nothing more to be said. At the door he added to me that he saw no basis on which to continue the conversations and as far as he personally was concerned he would leave immediately for Berlin and ask to be relieved of the responsibility of carrying out the program of the “confidential memorandum”.
After Baerwald had assured me that Bearsted’s categorical negative did not accurately represent the position, I called on Wohlthat and asked him to remain in London over this morning. I have arranged a meeting with Emerson. [Pell.]