840.48 Refugees/4096: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley)
662. Your 975, July 30, 2 p.m.,70 and previous. Please present proposed declaration in following language to Soviet Government for agreement:
“The Belgian, Czechoslovak, Greek, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norwegian, Polish, Soviet, United Kingdom, United States and Yugoslav [Page 201] Governments recognize with gratitude the humanitarian contributions made toward the solution of the refugee problem by those neutral states which accept and preserve those people fortunate enough to escape across their borders from areas where their lives and liberty are in danger on account of their race, religion or their political beliefs. They understand that this action often increases the difficulties already caused by the war within these states. These burdens may, of course, be borne under emergency conditions and for limited periods. It cannot be expected that these countries, some of which are already overcrowded, should maintain these people for an indefinite period.
“The above-mentioned Governments hereby declare that they will, at the termination of this war, admit to their territories all of their nationals who may have been displaced by the war into other countries. They further declare that it is a part of their settled policy to ensure such conditions in the enemy countries and the countries under enemy occupation as will permit the return thereto of all persons, of whatever nationality, now displaced therefrom and who have sought refuge in other countries, because of persecution on account of their race or their religious or political beliefs.”
We are in agreement with the British Government which suggests that should the French Committee of National Liberation shortly be accepted by our two Governments, the name of the Committee be inserted preceded by the word “and” after “Yugoslav Governments” in the initial paragraph of the declaration and also after “Governments” in the first sentence of the second paragraph.
We are in accord on the proposal to have your British colleague associate himself with you in the approach to the Soviet Government.
The proposed declaration as now written promises the return of the persons mentioned to the “countries” of their former domicile rather than to their former “homes” which could mean the precise places where they had resided. Thus, there would be allowed a broader latitude of action in the resettlement of the displaced persons. The language now identifies the persons to be repatriated as those who are refugees from persecution for racial, religious and political reasons, they being the only persons in whose behalf the declaration is to be made.
Please endeavor expedite agreement by Soviet Government and telegraph results promptly.
- Not printed.↩