840.48 Refugees/3557: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
450. Department’s 6434, December 18, 1942.11 There has been no change in policy since the date of cable under reference.
In Africa military conditions are considered of paramount importance. Other questions are subordinated to them and are worked out by Eisenhower in accordance with his military plans.
In Spain the refugee problem is receiving the attention of the American Embassy, which has arranged for representatives of American relief societies to administer relief and which has received $25,000 and certain supplies from the American Red Cross for that purpose.
The number of refugees in Spain is estimated to be approximately 4,000. Some may be accepted by Eisenhower’s representative for the war effort in Africa. Some may have received visas for the United States and others will probably receive them, as several hundred such cases have been given advisory approval under war-time visa procedure.
The President’s Advisory Committee has proposed that 1,000 proceed from Spain to Palestine on Portuguese vessel to Lourenço Marques and north from there on allied vessel, if available; and that 500 to 1,000 proceed by other Portuguese vessel to relief camp at Jamaica.
[Page 255]You may inform Emerson12 of substance, as reply from Taylor to his message in your 7390, December 28, 10 p.m.13
- Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 479.↩
- Sir Herbert Emerson, Director of the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 480.↩