840.48 Refugees/2116: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 3—2:38 p.m.]
833. Your No. 1, March 9, 4 p.m., to Rome for Myron Taylor.
1. The place and time of the proposed meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee was discussed yesterday by Winterton, Emerson,54 Car veil55 (who has taken over refugee matters in the Foreign Office) and Achilles.56
It was apparent that the suggestion for a meeting had been Winter-ton’s own and that neither he, Emerson, nor the British Government had any specific plan in mind. Winterton, while believing that a meeting should be held some time this year, wished to meet as far as possible Mr. Taylor’s and the Department’s wishes as to place and time. It was agreed that a neutral capital would be preferable, despite the probable difficulty in finding a neutral State adjacent to Germany willing to extend hospitality, and Emerson will discreetly sound out the Belgian and Swiss Governments; Monte Carlo was not regarded as particularly appropriate though perhaps acceptable as a last resort.
It was recognized that the nature of the principal topics for discussion would have an important bearing on the time when the meeting might be held. Carvell indicated that the Foreign Office saw no objection to a meeting but was in some doubt as to what subjects could profitably be discussed in the near future, Emerson expressed a similar view. Except for such progress as could be reported concerning the Dominican, Philippine and other less advanced projects, it appeared that the field of discussion would be limited largely to that of the Washington meeting, i. e., the relative importance of efforts to move [Page 222] refugees from countries of refuge or from Germany and the question of preparatory study for migratory movements after the war. Winterton referring to the strong objections voiced in Washington, and still held, by the French and British to discussion of possible postwar migrations. Emerson raised a question as to the technical staff needed for such major studies. It was the consensus of opinion that a meeting at which there was little progress to report and which was marked by sharp divergence of opinion between the American delegation and the Allied and European neutral delegations as to the Committee’s future course of action would be of little service.
It was felt that a meeting somewhat later in the year might be more fruitful and Winterton believed that in any event none need be held before July which would be a year after the last full meeting. He suggested that the subject be discussed again informally in perhaps 6 weeks’ time and expressed the hope that the American Government’s views as to the principal topics to be discussed could be communicated to him at that time.
2. The financial position of the Committee was also discussed. Emerson indicated that the current expenses of the Committee were small and that at the present rate of expenditure the balance in hand would last a long time. Carvell indicated that the Foreign Office planned to state in reply to Emerson’s circular letter of March 557 that the British Government was prepared to pay “up its full contribution in accordance with the need.” Emerson objected that failure of the British and American Governments to pay their full contribution for this year would set an unfortunate example for the future. Occasion was taken to point out that failure of the British to pay their full contribution would also make a bad impression in Washington. Carvell and Winterton expressed confidence that full payment of the British contribution could be arranged.
Repeated to Rome.