Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General, Volume I

840.48 Refugees/5485: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)

Washington, April 10, 1944—8 p.m.

1221. Refer our previous communications regarding War Refugee Board. With reference to your 1958 March 30, your 1994 March 31⁶⁹ and following our 1181 April 7, even though it is not clear what motives the Germans have in according better treatment to the Jewish refugees of Polish origin who hold passports and other documents issued in the names of several Latin American countries, it would seem that they include (1) some anxiety that ill treatment by them of these refugees might afford a pretext to the Latin American countries involved for further limiting the economic activities and the freedom of Germans who are residing in such countries of Latin America, (2) some hope that these refugees might be considered as exchange material in the Western Hemisphere against Germans there.

Referring to your 1958 March 30, the measure reported therein may be an indication that some doubt is beginning to be felt by Germany as to whether such Jews are considered exchange material and whether the treatment of Germans in Latin America would be afforded [affected] by such Jews’ treatment by the Germans. It is regarded as essential by this Government that prompt and effective measures be taken to dispel these doubts.

You are therefore requested to seek the good offices of the Swiss Government in presenting to the Germans that discussions are being undertaken by this Government with Latin American countries for a further exchange of Germans in the Western Hemisphere for persons who are now located in territories Under German control and that the United States considers in this connection that all persons in Vittel and elsewhere who hold passports and other documents issued in the names of Latin American countries will be eligible for exchange as indicated above.

You are requested to simultaneously ask the appropriate Swiss authorities to inform the German Government that in the interim this Government expects that the same immunities, rights and privileges will be accorded these people that the German Government expects will be accorded by the countries in the Western Hemisphere to Germans located in those countries. The additional statement may be made that a number of German civilians interned by various Latin American countries have been placed in the custody of the United States by such countries and are presently within the Continental United States in such custody.

You are informed that the substance of this message is being communicated to the American Missions in the Latin American countries concerned with this proposal. Inquiry is also being made of such Latin American countries concerning the authenticity of the information which was informally conveyed to you by the Foreign Interests Division of the Swiss Government which was referred to by you on March 31 in your 1994.⁷⁰

Hull

69. Neither printed; they concerned a report that 238 Jews interned at Camp Vittel in France had been isolated on March 20 for deportation on the ground that the Latin American documents they held were only accommodation passports and their holders were thus not eligible for exchange.
70. In telegram 992, April 10, to Madrid (not printed), the Ambassador was instructed to inform the Spanish Government of the vital interest of this Government in the return of the Vittel group (840.48 Refugees/5485).