548.G1/71: Telegram
The Consul General at Hamilton (Beck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:45 p.m.]
148. For Long from Dodds. Following is the text of recommendations in regard to the proposed reorganization of the Intergovernmental Committee which has been definitely agreed upon by the delegates of the two Governments at Bermuda:
“Recommendations arising out of the proposed utilization of the Intergovernmental Committee in connection with the solution of the problems presented by the refugees.
The American and United Kingdom delegates to the conference held at Bermuda have agreed to the submission to their respective Governments of the following recommendations. These recommendations concern the contribution to be made by the Intergovernmental Committee towards the solution of the pressing problems created by the existence of large numbers of refugees resulting from the present war. It is recognized by both delegations that this problem as it is now constituted can only be solved by the community of civilized .nations. The problem is of such magnitude as to be incapable of solution by the United States and Great Britain alone.
Various means of obtaining concerted action between the nations interested in this problem have been considered and it is the unanimous conviction of the delegates to this Conference that the problem should be entrusted to the Intergovernmental Committee. The future welfare of these refugees will be largely dependent upon the successful prosecution of the duties which may be entrusted to the Committee. Special care therefore must be taken to define accurately the scope of these duties and to extend wherever necessary the powers and responsibilities of the Committee.
The Bermuda Conference therefore presents four positive recommendations to the two Governments here represented for consideration [Page 170] by the Executive Committee of the Intergovernmental Committee. These proposals involve new duties for the Intergovernmental Committee, a widening of its field of activity and a strengthening of its organization. They envisage the necessity for negotiations with Allied and neutral Governments but not, of course, with enemy governments. These negotiations will include, for example, approaches in regard to the chartering of neutral shipping, the procurement of places of refuge and in some cases appeal to neutral governments for the furtherance of humanitarian proposals. The area of primary interest to the work of the Intergovernmental Committee should be confined to those countries and peoples from which refugees come as a result of the war in Europe or in which they may find refuge.
The mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee which was adequate at the time it was adopted at the Evian Conference is now unsuited to the emergency created by the war. The limitations imposed upon the work of the Committee by this mandate are evident. Its scope is now restricted to refugees from Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland. It acts under the stipulation that the maintenance and transport of refugees is not to be at the cost of member Governments. It will be for the Intergovernmental Committee to receive and disburse funds both public and private. In addition, the Intergovernmental Committee as it now exists is free under its mandate to negotiate with the German Government on refugee matters. The Committee suffers from a further disability in that its membership does not include some of the United Nations and neutrals whose assistance is of particular value.
It is obvious that these conditions must be altered. It is of the utmost importance that the scope of the activities of the Intergovernmental Committee be broadened so as to permit its efficient and energetic operation.
The following measures are proposed by the delegates to the Refugee Conference at Bermuda:
- (a)
- The Committee should be invited to revise its mandate. In
order to effect this purpose it is suggested that the
mandate should read as follows:
‘The Executive Committee of the Intergovernmental Committee is hereby empowered by the member states to undertake negotiations with neutral or Allied states or organizations and to take such steps as may be necessary to preserve, maintain and transport those persons displaced from their homes by their efforts to escape from areas where their lives and liberty are in danger on account of their race, religion or their political beliefs. The operation of the Committee shall extend to all countries from which refugees come as a result of the war in Europe or in which they may find refuge. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to receive and disburse for the purposes enumerated above funds, both public and private’.
- (b)
- It is further recommended by the delegates to the Conference at Bermuda that the membership of the Intergovernmental Committee be broadened. Specifically, invitations might be extended to the USSR, Poland, Greece and Yugoslavia, and possibly to other countries. It is assumed that France’s place on the Executive Committee must unfortunately for obvious reasons be considered vacant for the present. However, the interests of the citizens of France will be protected by the Committee with the utmost care and the hope that France [Page 171] may soon be able to take her place on the Committee will be constantly borne in mind.
- (c)
- It is recommended that provisions be made for the procurement of funds adequate for the work of the Committee. The delegates to the Bermuda Conference believe that it would be preferable to revive the practice of pro rata contributions on the Geneva basis. However, if this should prove impracticable they would regard as reasonable the alternative of voluntary contributions from member Governments. In addition the delegates assume that considerable funds will be available from private sources.
- (d)
- The administrative organization of the Committee is not conducive to efficient correspondence. Considerable increase in the staff of the Executive Committee will be [necessary?] to the proper conduct of the important duties which the Committee must undertake. The delegates believe that these additions to personnel may be made by the Executive Committee without special authorization from the member states and that they can be effected from time to time as the occasion demands. However, a specific recommendation is made for the creation within the Executive Committee of a management committee composed of a salaried chairman, director and secretary.
It is obvious that the pressure of events will not permit long delay in the completion of the measure proposed above. If the labors of the Conference on Refugees in Bermuda are not to be in vain, it is essential that early and decisive action be taken upon the proposals which are to be made. No lack of effort or interest must be permitted to stand in the way of the efficient prosecution of the various measures planned for the alleviation of the unhappy plight of the refugees. The delegates to the Conference at Bermuda meeting propose that the Government should take immediate steps to implement the recommendations relating to the Intergovernmental Committee.”
It is the feeling of the delegates that the following steps should be taken in connection with these recommendations:
- 1.
- Lord Winterton should be requested by the British and American Governments to secure by telegraph the assent of the other members of the Executive Committee to these proposals. If necessary he should be supported by joint representations made by American and British representatives accredited to the other states on the Executive Committee.
- 2.
- When the assent of the Executive Committee to these proposals is secured, the member states of the Intergovernmental Committee should be requested by telegraph to approve of the suggestions made. Requests for such action will be made by the Executive Committee and will again be supported by diplomatic action on the part of the Governments represented on the Executive Committee.
- 3.
- As soon thereafter as possible the adhesion of other neutral and Allied states should be sought.
- 4.
- When steps 1 and 2 have been completed the Executive Committee should make all necessary changes in or additions to personnel.
Beck