840.48 Refugees/4796: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
7346. It is suggested that it would be well to establish small offices in Algiers, Naples, Lisbon, Madrid and Ankara for the purpose of assisting [Page 223] refugees. We would be disposed to share with the British Government the expenses of maintenance of such offices in case the expenses could not be conveniently provided from the administrative funds of the Executive Committee. It is thought that both British and American officials should be sent to each office. In the cases of Algiers and Naples the approval of the responsible military authorities would of course have to be obtained. In the cases of Lisbon, Madrid and Ankara the consent of the Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish Governments, respectively, would have to be obtained. Also in the case of Madrid it would seem advisable to obtain the opinion of the American and British Ambassadors there on the proposal in view of the confidential arrangements made with the Spanish Government for the care and evacuation of refugees in Spain.94a
Please discuss this with the appropriate British authorities and in agreement with them present it to the Executive Committee and advise us as promptly as possible of the results.