811.111 Refugee Children/113: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Fish) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—12:16 a.m.]
1674. Department’s 1450, October 30.45 The Legation has been in close contact with the American Child Welfare Committee which arrived here November 21 to effect the removal of refugee children from France and with the representatives of the various relief organizations involved. These representatives are jointly endeavoring to find some neutral or French relief organization which could take over the responsibility for the children and for their eventual transport to the Spanish border. They would also like to enlist the aid of the Swiss Legation at Vichy in arranging for the release of these children to Spain. They have been advised that if their committee at home wishes to have the assistance of the Swiss authorities it should discuss the matter with the Department.
Since some time will probably elapse even in the best of circumstances before the release of any children from France could now be arranged, the members of the group are interested endeavoring to get certain refugee children out of Spain. They state that they have telegraphed the Department asking that these children be included in the blanket visa assurance. If the answer is favorable they hope to send representatives to Spain to discuss the matter further with our Embassy and the Spanish Government.
[Page 478]The members of the newly arrived American group are naturally anxious not to remain idle in Lisbon for any length of time and the Legation is doing all in its power to assist them in finding some worth while work to which they can turn their energies.
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