840.48 Refugees/4838: Telegram
The American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—12:44 a.m.]
106. The office of the British Minister has brought to our attention a telegram from the British Foreign Office regarding a joint British [Page 385] American statement concerning the refugee camp at Fedhala, Morocco which it is proposed to include in a general public statement on the results of the Bermuda Refugee Conference.58 Following is the substance of the reply of the office of the British Minister to the Foreign Office.
- (1)
- Because of the extreme sensitiveness which the French [Committee?] is now showing, our American colleagues and ourselves agreed to show the draft statement (quoted in telegram from Foreign Office) to the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. The French do not object to publicity but put forward an alternative draft which seemed unsatisfactory as it omitted any reference to any American responsibility for the camp or to their payment of cost of maintenance.
- (2)
- The French, with great difficulty, have been persuaded to agree to the
following draft. This is substantially their version with the exception
of the second sentence which has been added and which the French dislike
but are prepared to accept. Statement begins:
“The French Commissariat of Foreign Affairs are in agreement with the Governments of the U.S. and the U.K., has taken appropriate steps to receive in Morocco certain refugees who have escaped from territories occupied by the Axis and at present residing in Spain.
The Committee on its side is providing necessary accommodation while British and American Governments have agreed to share between them cost of maintenance of center, which will be directed by a joint American, British and French staff. Refugees will find temporary assignment there until permanent arrangements can be made for them. With removal of refugees to Morocco and transfer of others to Palestine the greater part of refugees in Spain and Portugal will have been removed to other destinations. [”] End of statement.
- (3)
- Of course the main object of redraft is to bring out French
contribution to plan. The French made following additional points:
- (a)
- In view of Moroccan susceptibilities they would prefer to avoid emphasis on American direction.
- (b)
- They dislike the word “camp” which to the French reader would convey idea of a concentration camp.
- (4)
- We agreed to submit redraft and French comments to Foreign Office but explained that it would not be promised that it would be possible to alter the statement at this stage, if the statement is still to be made. We hope, however, that it may be possible to go someway at least to meet the points of the French and of British message to Foreign Office.
Office of British Minister has informed us that British Ambassador in Madrid has objected to any publicity at this time concerning the [Page 386] Fedhala camp on grounds that plan for evacuation of the refugees from Spain might be interfered with through German pressure.
Repeated to London, Madrid.