840.48 Refugees/2138
The Minister in Guatemala (DesPortes) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 13.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that it was announced on May 7th that by a decree of May 2, 1940, the Guatemalan Government had determined to withdraw its representative from the Intergovernmental Committee on Political Refugees.
This act of the Guatemalan Government is, of course, of little real significance in view of the fact that for nearly a year Guatemala has not been receiving any refugees, and only agreed to take one hundred families in the first place. I understand that it was determined to [Page 227] withdraw the Guatemalan representative principally in order to save the small quota which Guatemala was paying as its share of the maintenance of the Committee. I also understand that instructions have been given to notify the Committee of this action.
Respectfully yours,