840.48 Refugees/4429: Airgram
The Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 3—noon.]
A–2014. Reference is made to the memorandum of August 18, 1943 to Governor Lehman from Mr. Hugh R. Jackson of the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations,22 in respect to the conversations held with Dr. Wiesiolowski in regard to policy of administration of Polish Refugee Colony at León, Guanajuato, and the possibility of the Polish American Council making cash advances for refugees.
Mr. Kelly, who is now in Mexico, has just received a telegram from the Polish American Council, Inc., 1200 North Ashland, Chicago, Illinois, reading in part as follows:
“Re letter August 17 transferring to you $25,000 License 22933 for Polish refugees Santa Rosa.”
It will be recalled from my despatch number 12,615 of August 27, 1943,23 transmitting a memorandum prepared by Mr. O’Donoghue respecting his recent visit to Leon, that the suggestion was made that [Page 345] if the Polish American Council is prepared to advance $25,000 monthly towards the support of the Colony, an amount which would be more than ample to defray current operating costs, consideration should be given to creating a sinking fund from the surplus in order eventually to meet construction and installation costs in so far as possible.
It is not known whether such an idea as that advanced is feasible, but it is my considered opinion that it should be explored. It is of course quite possible that the Polish American Council does not intend to make regular advances of $25,000 monthly. The Department doubtless has more definite information as to this.
So far as the present remittance of $25,000 to Mr. Kelly is concerned, he does not wish, and I do not believe that he should be forced to have the responsibility of administering this money on behalf of the Polish American Council. It is believed that such payments should be made either directly to the Polish authorities or to the Treasurer of the United States through the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations.
Mr. Kelly is taking no action with respect to the present remittance and we should appreciate urgent telegraphic instructions from the Department as to the disposition he should make of the draft in question.