840.48 Refugees/4911
The First Secretary of the British Embassy (Hayter) to the Chief of the Visa Division (Tracers)
Dear Mr. Travers: The Foreign Office have been approached by the European Division of the World Jewish Congress on the subject of the Jewish deportees from Roumania at present in Trans-Dniestria. The World Jewish Congress are naturally concerned as to the possibility of deportation of these refugees by the retreating German army. The numbers concerned are said to be between 75,000 and 150,000. The World Jewish Congress have asked that measures be taken to rescue these people, which according to information supplied by their headquarters in New York is a possibility since Antonescu64 is said to be willing to be conciliatory. The Congress therefore suggest an approach to the Roumanian Government through the latter’s representative in Lisbon or Ankara.
The Foreign Office admit that the military and other difficulties in the way of the proposed action are obvious. They would nevertheless like to know whether the United States Government has received a similar approach and have any views on the method of dealing with the question. In particular they enquire whether the United States Government would be prepared to join in any approach to the Soviet Government, or to recommend such an approach to the World Jewish Congress.
I should be very glad to have your views on the above.
Yours sincerely,
- Gen. Ion Antonescu, Rumanian Prime Minister.↩