Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, General, Volume I

852.48/1532b: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)⁶⁷

Washington, May 15, 1943—9 p.m.

3118. The American and British Governments and the French authorities in North Africa have been much interested to provide for the passage out of Spain into Africa of refugees. These refugees seem to consist of three categories:

(a) French citizens desiring to proceed to North Africa to join the war effort there,

(b) Stateless persons who are refugees from political, racial and religious persecution fortunate enough to have escaped into Spain,

(c) About 1500 or more declared Canadian citizens of former other nationality who would be forwarded from a port in North Africa in British bottoms to England to join various elements of the fighting forces.

The Department considers that this refugee movement should be viewed as a whole and considers that it would be unfortunate if exclusive priority were insisted upon by any of the authorities concerned for a group in which they are particularly interested. If there should develop an insistence upon the evacuation of one of the categories mentioned in preference to another category there might develop a rigidity which would tend to defeat the whole movement. Such a development the United States Government would view with apprehension for its effect would be twofold. First, it would interfere with the flow of fighting men both to North Africa and to the forces operating under British command, and second, it would tend to have a very discouraging effect upon the whole movement to protect and preserve those refugees of political, racial and religious persecution whose fate is the concern of the civilized world.

With these thoughts in mind the Department expresses the hope to its representatives concerned with these movements that they do whatever they may be able to secure the onward movement of these persons out of Spain through Portugal and to Africa. For this purpose it is essential that there be ships available. Several vessels were used as recently as April 30 to transport refugees from Portugal to North Africa. It seems that these vessels could still be used. If they could be continued for 60 or 90 days all of the persons mentioned could be evacuated. The cooperation of the naval authorities who control the use of the vessels on that run and the cooperation of the Portuguese and Spanish Governments to permit the movement of persons to board those vessels are necessary for the whole movement of refugees depends upon the use of either those particular vessels or similar tonnage. It is the Department’s hope that its representatives will be able to secure the cooperation of the appropriate authorities and have vessels continue this movement and hopes that the same vessels may be still available and continue to be made available. At the same time it is felt that an insistence upon the prior evacuation of any particular category might develop in such a way as to defeat the whole purpose.

These matters are called to your attention and you are requested to continue to work out the problem as expeditiously as possible.

This same telegram has been sent to Algiers, Madrid and Lisbon.

Hull

67. The same on the same date as No. 943 to the Consul General at Algiers, as No. 1106 to the Ambassador in Spain, and as No. 856 to the Minister in Portugal.