840.48 Refugees/4770: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—2:30 a.m.]
1977. From Murphy. Translation of reply of November 9 received from French in regard to camp for refugees from Spain at Fedhala, Morocco follows:
The personal representative of President Roosevelt, North Africa by note 36 of October 18 kindly advised the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs of the agreement of the Government of the United States to the proposals of the French Committee concerning the project for accommodating in Morocco certain stateless refugees or nationals of enemy countries who are now held in Spain.
Mr. Murphy has moreover called the attention of the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs to the interest which the American-British Governments attach to it not appearing that these refugees are being submitted to the internment regime of a concentration camp.
The Commissioner for Foreign Affairs has the honor to advise Mr. Murphy that it has never been the intention of the Committee to subject foreign refugees to measures designed to deprive them of liberty. French Committee wishes as do the British and American Governments to assure as generous as possible an asylum to refugees but it has appeared indispensable to take certain precautions with regard to persons whose antecedents are not known and for whom a simple review of the file would not furnish sufficient guarantees.
It is of course understood that the French authorities are prepared after an examination of each particular case to grant permission to work in Morocco to refugees, who can continue their professional work without disadvantage to the economy of the Protectorate. In this connection such refugees will enjoy the right to remain in the area where it will have been possible to obtain employment for them, with the sole reservations of conforming to such controls which may be deemed necessary.
[Page 376]With respect to refugees who will not have been authorized to work and who as a result will have to be cared for at the Fedela [Fedhala] camp, it goes without saying that the French administration, if the occasion arises will grant them facilities to remain away temporarily from the Housing Center, on the condition that they maintain their regular residence at the camp and observe scrupulously the laws and regulations of the country in particular those regarding immigration.
The Commissioner of Foreign Affairs hopes that these decisions, which have been taken with the twofold concern of treating unfortunate foreigners in a humane manner and of safeguarding order and security in the territories under French sovereignty, will meet with the approval of the American and British Governments.
Repeat to Madrid and London. [Murphy.]