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

740.00115 European War 1939/9547: Telegram

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

Washington, May 27, 1944—11 p.m.

1846. Department was pleased to have information in your 2937, May 9, 10 p.m.⁴⁶ and will await with interest promised further report.

Please inform the Swiss Government that the Department of State is undertaking the preliminary steps necessary in order to place a concrete proposal before the German Government or to consider any proposal that Government may wish to make.

The first step is to obtain adoption by the Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense at Montevideo of a resolution broadening exchange standards in its outstanding Resolution XX which at present narrowly restricts the repatriation of German nationals from this Hemisphere. Action to this end is being expedited.

Department’s proposal as at present contemplated will suggest the progressive exchange of all non-Germans interned or otherwise confined in German territory, including Jews and persons of doubtful nationality, for German nationals now resident in the Western Hemisphere. It will suggest that those bearing passports, visas or other documentation of non-European origin indicating a destination abroad would logically receive first consideration. Such a proposal will be independent of any now under negotiation and will suggest the formulation and exchange of lists for prior approval by both parties. Such exchanges would probably in the main depend for transportation upon existent neutral passenger vessels plying between the two hemispheres.

With specific reference to your 2928, May 9, 4 p.m.,⁴⁷ Germans may be informed that in future exchanges of United States and German nationals provision will be made for inclusion of close alien relatives accompanying American citizens. Normally those to be included with American citizens would be limited to alien spouses and alien minor children, although other relatives might also be considered for general exchange. Provision will furthermore be made for exchange of the alien relatives still held in German internment camps of American citizens repatriated in 1942.

In view of foregoing the German Government, if contemplating the transfer of individuals susceptible of inclusion in contemplated exchanges, might wish to move them to places whence their delivery for exchange will be facilitated rather than impeded.

To assist it in its further consideration of the possibility of arranging such exchanges, the Department would appreciate receiving as soon as possible Swiss Government’s report of German Government’s reaction to foregoing possibilities.

Hull

46. Not printed; it concerned a letter of April 28 from the Swiss Legation reporting that the German Foreign Office at Berlin had no information regarding the alleged transfer of 238 persons from Vittel to prison, and a report was promised on the results of further efforts to obtain information looking toward their immediate return to Vittel (840.48 Refugees/5950).
47. Not printed; the Minister in Switzerland transmitted a report that the competent German authorities intended to deport all Jews who were interned with their American spouses to whom American authorities would not accord the right to be included in exchange groups (740.00115 EW(1939)/9547).