840.48 Refugees/4687: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 20—10 p.m.]
7236. With regard to a joint declaration to neutral states concerning repatriation of refugees, the Embassy has today received the following letter dated October 18 from the Foreign Office:
“On 18th of August Mr. Law wrote to your Ambassador regarding the proposed declaration of the Allied nations regarding the maintenance and repatriation of refugees now receiving hospitality in neutral countries. It appears that the United States Ambassador and our Ambassador in Moscow communicated the text on which both our Governments had agreed to the Soviet Government on 14th August, just 2 months ago. No reply has come, and we are therefore asking the Ambassador in Moscow to make an effort to get one. Should the Soviet Government still not furnish their views I should like to suggest that both our Governments might agree for our respective Ambassadors in Moscow to:
- (a)
- Press the Soviet Government to say why they are unable to concur; or
- (b)
- Obtain the Soviet Government’s concurrence in our approaching [Page 215] all the other Governments concerned, to none of whom have we of course yet communicated either the text or even our intention of promoting the declaration at all.
It would be unfortunate if the declaration had to be issued with the Soviet Government omitted but it is our feeling, as also, I think, [that] of the Intergovernmental Committee, that the Allied declaration should be issued as soon as possible and that at the very least the other Governments whom it is proposed to ask to join in it should not be kept in ignorance in the absence of any expression of views on the part of the Soviet Government.”
Instruction as to the action which the Department may take in response to the British suggestions above would be appreciated by the Embassy.