840.48 Refugees/4555: Airgram
The Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9—11 a.m.]
A–2283. Department’s 1661, October 5, 7 p.m.37 The budget submitted by the Polish Embassy in Washington for the first quarter for refugee expenses at León, which is identical with the budget brought back to the Department by Mr. Kracht,38 was drawn up by Mr. Kracht in collaboration with Mr. Kelly and may therefore be considered to have the approval of the latter. Likewise, the budget was submitted to officials of the Embassy and no objection was found thereto. Items in the budget which was drawn up the latter part of August naturally did not take into consideration the revision suggested in the letter of September 15.39
The Polish Minister here is agreeable to the suggestion of drawing up separate budgets for the Polish American Council and National Catholic Welfare Conference, but he states that inasmuch as the responsibility for the project will rest upon Mr. Smezcko, the representative of the Polish Ministry of Social Welfare, he proposes to await the arrival of the latter before taking any action in the matter. This last observation applies also to the question of wage scales.
Smezcko was due to arrive here last Saturday but has not yet put in an appearance. He will doubtless not wish to take any action regarding setting up of budgets for private agencies or in connection [Page 364] with wage scales until after he has discussed matter with Polish Minister and has spent some days at least in investigating conditions at León.
In the meantime, Kelly at León is proceeding with the necessary construction work for the reception of the new group due to arrive by end of October. Such construction costs money and is, in general, on a cash basis. In a memorandum dated October 4, Kelly stated that he was out of funds and that the Polish Minister had had to advance him money for construction expenses from the $25,000 given by the Polish American Council. This is obviously an undesirable condition and I recommend therefore that, pending the approval of the budget submitted by the Polish Embassy, arrangements be made for the transfer of funds, in the amount of $50,000, to the Embassy to be advanced to Kelly and the Polish authorities here as needed.40
I should add that Dr. Wiesiolowski has been in hospital for past two weeks, having suffered a coronary thrombosis, and that I greatly fear his able assistance and counsel in the project will no longer be available. His condition is such that he cannot now be bothered with details of administration, etc.
- Not printed.↩
- George V. Kracht, Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations.↩
- Not found in Department files.↩
- In telegram No. 1718, October 13, 1943, 10 p.m., to the Ambassador in Mexico, an additional $50,000 was authorized in accordance with this recommendation (840.48 Refugees/4684d).↩