867N.55/178: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:22 p.m.]
115. Department’s No. 61, June 6, 2 p.m. The name of ship Alexander has been changed to Liesel. It is Rumanian owned but flies flag of Panama. It reached Palestine about June 1 where it is being held by the British authorities as the passengers are without permission to land.
The British Minister informs me that his Government has been negotiating with the Rumanian Government with a view to stopping this illegal immigration of Jews through Rumania but that many technical legal difficulties have been encountered due to the international status of the Danube. The Jews are brought down the river from central European points in German boats to the Danube delta. They remain aboard until they can be clandestinely transferred to other vessels sailing for Palestine or South American ports. This particular group left Vienna, April 13. They are the members with families of a Jewish sport club called Macabeus.