840.48 Refugees/5613: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:06 p.m.]
2297. Substance your April 7, No. 1181 has been communicated to Swiss Foreign Minister. I have not as yet seen Kullmann report. While I had private intimations regarding Paraguayan Government’s action your statement was first official confirmation received.
My despatch 5824, August 1083 last year gives an objective review of irregular documentation situation with particular reference to Paraguayan and Dominican Consuls and my [despatch] 6921 of December 2783 gave first reports on difficulties of persons in German occupied territory who had been provided with this irregular documentation. Since latter date numerous telegrams on subject with information of interest have been dispatched. These should all be [Page 1030] consulted as possibly supplementing Kullmann report since Kullmann did not review subject in detail with Legation.
Kullmann report as quoted by you seems to imply that Swiss Government has acted unilaterally in these cases without consultation with South and Central American Governments concerned. This assumption does not appear to be borne out by the records in several instances of which Legation has knowledge. (Please see Bern’s 6087, September 30, 194385 reporting dismissal by Paraguayan Government of Consul Hugli; Department’s FSS 78, October 26, 194386 presaging positive action by Peru in renunciation of passports irregularly issued by Peruvian Consul and instructing American diplomatic and consular officers to suspend action cases of all visa applications presenting Peruvian passports; Department’s 2678, November 187 reporting dismissal by Dominican Republic of Consul Bauer).
Impression is conveyed that Kullmann report is also critical of Swiss authorities in measures they have heretofore taken in endeavors to suppress traffic in irregular documentation.
Probably by far the greater part of this irregular documentation is in hands of bona fide refugees from Nazi oppression. It may surely be assumed that those holding such documentation who are now interned are not suspect. But issue has been widespread without proper control which in any event would appear impracticable and while names of persons to whom passports have been issued are I suppose usually of record identity has not been proved.
Irregular passports thus issued have been found in possession of suspect persons in Switzerland by Swiss authorities and in at least one known case irregular documentation has been issued by a foreign consular officer to an individual in Switzerland to conceal identity illegally. Swiss, moreover, found that extortionate fees were being collected.
On the whole it would appear that Swiss authorities have been motivated by considerations quite similar to those which occasioned Department’s several circular and special instructions which pointed out dangers inherent in practice particularly with reference to possible involvement of enemy agents. Moreover, cases were found which were deemed of immediate concern to Swiss national security. I feel consequently that criticism of Swiss authorities or of remedial action taken by them is scarcely justified and would be inappropriate at present juncture if such is actually contained in Kullmann report.
Moreover, there is among Swiss no lack of understanding of or sympathy with those victims who might find surcease or means of [Page 1031] escape from Nazi oppression by use of documentation under discussion and I have reason to believe that Swiss Government will do what it feels it consistently can to alleviate their condition. Department understands Swiss required to guide their activities and relations with several belligerents in such manner as not to impair their usefulness as protecting power for many complicated and difficult purposes.
Please see also my 2282, April 1388 reporting Vatican activities in behalf of interned Jews.