840.48 Refugees/4087: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 30—2:15 a.m.]
51. Polish series. Mr. Masaryk, Czechoslovak Foreign Minister, and Mr. Romer, Polish Foreign Minister, called today and on behalf of Governments listed below requested me to convey to you following message dated July 28, 1943:64 [Page 198]
“The Governments of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Yugoslavia*65 have been informed of the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Bermuda Conference on aid of refugees.66 They have also been informed of the declaration of the United States State Department of May 19th last67 and of the statements made by Mr. Eden and Mr. Peake68 on the same day in the House of Commons.69 They understand that the Conference, although accepting the principle that the winning of the war in the shortest time possible was the best service which their respective Governments could render to the refugees and to all those who are suffering under the tyranny of the Germans and their satellites, reached the conclusion that there are certain possibilities of a limited character for aiding refugees immediately. The Conference has in view, among other things, a scheme to support neutral countries who are receiving refugees, and who would be given an assurance that they are not expected to shoulder unaided and indefinitely the burden entailed by the receiving of refugees. A scheme of financial help to neutral countries is also being contemplated. This presupposes an efficient machinery of international consultation, collaboration and action and to this purpose it is proposed to reestablish an intergovernmental committee on a wider basis, carrying much greater authority.
The Governments of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia prompted by the endeavor to assist to the utmost of their ability their citizens who are suffering severe hardships under the yoke of the Germans and their satellites, but at the same time bearing in mind all the difficulties in the way of a large-scale handling of this problem, avail themselves of this opportunity to assure the American Government that they are fully prepared to undertake the closest cooperation for affording all possible aid to refugees.
It has been suggested and considered with approval that the scheme for financial help to neutral countries should if necessary apply also to Governments of the United Nations who are ready to afford hospitality to refugees.”
*“The reply of the French Committee of National Liberation has not yet arrived from Algiers.”
- This same message was sent to the British Government which conveyed it through Lord Winterton to the Executive Committee at meeting on August 4.↩
- In telegram No. 56, August 12, from the Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile, it is explained that the first asterisk indicated in the message refers to a footnote and the second asterisk is the footnote itself (840.48 Refugees/4151).↩
- See telegram No. 155, April 28, 10 p.m., from the Consul General at Hamilton, p. 173.↩
- Ante, p. 183.↩
- British Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department.↩
- Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th series, vol. 389, cols. 1117–1204.↩