Office of the Historian

840.48 Refugees/5841h: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé at Algiers (Chapin)97

Washington, April 20, 1944.

1202. Agreement has been reached in principle between American and British Governments to transfer to UNRRA full responsibility for operation and maintenance of refugee camp at Fedhala near Casablanca.

Detailed arrangements as to transfer of responsibility are now being worked out. It is proposed that the American and British Governments should retain responsibility of transporting refugees to North Africa and that UNRRA’s primary responsibility would be to maintain refugees after their arrival in North Africa. Responsibility for eventual resettlement of refugees not to be repatriated will remain unchanged, although under terms of UNRRA Agreement UNRRA will assist in repatriation of refugees who are to return to their original countries. Effective date of transfer will occur after [Page 1035] appropriation by United States Congress of funds for contribution to UNRRA, which is expected before the middle of June.

UNRRA is instructing Beckelman98 to take up with French authorities in Algiers with respect to proposed transfer in order to obtain their consent as required by UNRRA Agreement to operations in French territory. You are requested to join with Beckelman in discussions with the French to the extent necessary, although, since French Committee is member of UNRRA, the initial approach should be made by Beckelman on behalf of UNRRA. UNRRA has informally notified French representatives here of these plans.99 It is understood that the British Government is issuing similar instructions to Algiers.

Hull
  1. Selden Chapin, serving as officer in charge of the American Mission in the absence of the representative of the United States to the French Committee of National Liberation (Wilson), who left that post on January 14.↩
  2. Moses Beckelman, UNRRA representative in North Africa.↩

  3. In note 98/821 of July 6, enclosed in despatch 466, August 10, 1944, from Algiers (not printed), the French Commissioner for Foreign Affairs indicated that the French authorities had no objection to the transfer to UNRRA of the North African Refugee Camp at Fedhala under certain conditions (840.48–Refugees/8–1044).

    Camp Lyautey was eventually closed by UNRRA, and its inmates were transferred to the camp at Philippeville.

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