840.48 Refugees/3559
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
Plans made in 1941 for the evacuation from Spain and Portugal in an emergency of British subjects and approved Allied nationals provided [Page 251] for their transport in the first instance to Halifax. Owing to the scarcity of shipping and to the lengthy journey this would have meant leaving most of them behind.
In view of the changed situation in North Africa this question has been reconsidered and it is now suggested that in such an eventuality the evacuees should be taken to Algeria or French Morocco. According to present information, the numbers likely to be affected are:—
| From Portugal | — | 2,000; |
| From Spain | — | 1,000 British subjects and |
| 2,000 Allies. |
His Majesty’s Government would be glad to learn whether the United States Government would see any objection to the above proposal.