840.48 Refugees/5842: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé at Algiers ( Chapin )
1669. The following is for Murphy42 from War Refugee Board.
Indicated by our information that refugees have been arriving in Italy from Yugoslavia at average rate of over 1800 per week and that this flow expected to continue and augment. Appears also [Page 1053] that military authorities are fearful facilities in southern Italy for refugees may become seriously overtaxed unless these refugees can be removed rapidly to other areas.
Discussion had with the President over whole matter. He has made it clear that there should be no discouragement under any circumstances of escape of refugees to Italy from the Balkan countries. Not only from the standpoint of saving lives of Yugoslavs is the flow of refugees from Yugoslavia to Italy important, but also that as many refugees as possible may be able to escape through Yugoslavia from other Balkan countries. Cable no. Yugos 102 from Cairo of April 29,43 indicates in this connection that Tito has promised support in rescue of Hungarian Jews. It is essential that we do what we can to facilitate the escape of Jews today in Hungary in view of their plight.
The crux of this matter is the finding of suitable places of removal for these refugees. The following should be borne in mind in this connection:
- (a)
- These refugees should be moved to camps in the Middle East in the largest numbers possible. Every effort to supply sufficient medical and other personnel is being made by UNRRA.
- (b)
- Present plans to move as many Jewish refugees as possible should be carried out without delay. It should be borne in mind that in the case of Turkey, the policy that all Jews escaping into Turkey from the Balkan countries will be permitted to go to Palestine, has been adopted by the British. Checking of these refugees for security purposes occurs in camps in Palestine in which they are placed.
- (c)
- The establishment by the British, with our cooperation, of havens of refuge for these people in Tripolitania and Cyrenaica has been pressed by the Board for some time. To date there have been no results.
- (d)
- The possibility that some of these refugees might be taken to Sicily suggested by the President. The possibility of this, together with a substantial expansion of facilities on the Italian mainland, should be carefully explored.
- (e)
- It is not considered desirable to bring refugees from Italy to Camp Lyautey at Fedhala since all accommodations of that camp must be kept available for refugees from Spain. There should be borne in mind however the possibility of establishing other camps in French North Africa for refugees from Italy.
You are requested to submit your views and recommendations as to all possible havens of refuge in which these people might be placed temporarily as quickly as possible, bearing in mind, of course, that there must be no interference with the flow of refugees into Italy from the Balkan countries.
[Page 1054]It is requested that contents of this cable be conveyed to the appropriate military authorities, together with representatives of UNRRA and Ackermann44 of the War Refugee Board. Discussion of this whole matter with them and cooperation with them in solution this most urgent problem is requested. [War Refugee Board.]
Repeated to Naples for Kirk45 and Cairo for MacVeagh.
- Robert D. Murphy, U. S. Political Adviser on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Wilson).↩
- Not printed.↩
- Leonard E. Ackermann, Representative of the War Refugee Board in the Mediterranean area.↩
- Alexander C. Kirk, American Representative on the Advisory Council for Italy.↩