840.48 Refugees/4537: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Algiers (Wiley)
Washington, October 15,
1943—11 p.m.
1889. For Murphy.
- 1.
- We regret exceedingly to learn that the French authorities, according to your 1700, October 4, 2 p.m., (numbered paragraph 1) desire to impose conditions of internment upon the refugees to come from Spain for whose temporary residence in French North Africa we have asked that a site be designated as directed by the President in agreement with Mr. Churchill. We pointed out in our 1383, July 27, 6 p.m., that the implication that the refugees would be placed in a concentration camp had to be avoided. We indicated that they would therefore have to be given some freedom of movement and we cannot recede from that position. Confinement of the refugees in a camp following their evacuation from Spain where, we believe, they enjoyed some liberty, would cause instant and violent press and public criticism of us and of the French authorities. We recall in that connection the public agitation for the liberation of the political internees in North Africa. We were unaware that there are other internees in Morocco, of enemy nationality, domiciled in Morocco, and desire an informative report from you on that subject.
- 2.
- You will note from Madrid’s 2674, September 20, 5 p.m., to the Department, repeated to you, that security check on the refugees will be undertaken by both the American and British Embassies. Participation of the French authorities in the checking procedure might well be arranged. This checking will, of course, be conducted primarily to eliminate the forwarding to North Africa of any and all [Page 368] refugees whose entry into North Africa would be undesirable for security reasons. In view thereof we do not see the need for confinement of refugees to a camp if that is in fact contemplated by the French authorities, or for holding them under any other restrictive measures than apply to the general population locally. The reason for placing them in a camp such as Camp Marshal Lyautey, as we see it, is to afford them most conveniently housing and maintenance, the expenditures for which can thus best be controlled in behalf of the British and American Governments who will share the costs.
- 3.
- We do not insist that the refugees should be allowed to work outside the camp but we suggest strongly the advisability, from a humanitarian as well as an economic viewpoint, of affording refugees, according to their various qualifications, permission to work.
- 4.
- Madrid’s 279, September 29, 11 p.m., to the Department,42 repeated to you, reports that the number of refugees now in Spain of the categories in question is 1600. The condition that the French authorities desire to make that not more than 2000 of these refugees will be admitted at the same time in Morocco is accordingly acceptable to us.
- 5.
- We do not understand the reference to the proposed center as “the second replacement center of the Atlantic base section at Fedhala” (see first paragraph of your 1700), and desire clarification and confirmation that Camp Marshal Lyautey is meant. Considering, among other matters, the cost and labor of setting up the center for the refugees, we desire to leave open to future agreement between us, the British and the French authorities, the question of the subsequent transfer of the refugees to another locality, should that arise (see numbered paragraph 2 of your 1700)
- 6.
- We are agreeable to the proposal that the French Administration should exercise ordinary police control wherever the refugees may be accommodated, in association with the personnel operating the reception center (see numbered paragraph 3 of your 1700)
- 7.
- Please immediately approach the French authorities again and request their consent to the reception of the refugees in accordance with the views expressed above. It is suggested that in doing so you emphasize the important humanitarian contribution which the French authorities will be making in affording temporary asylum for the persecuted, homeless persons for whom it is needed.
We are repeating this to London43 with request that British Government instruct Macmillan to express to the French authorities its concurrence in our views.
Please repeat to Madrid.
Hull