840.48 Refugees/3842: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
4413. It is essential to remove refugees escaped from enemy territory rapidly to other areas from southern Italy due to overcrowding of existent facilities in latter country. This must be done without delay so that no discouragement or impeding of flow of refugees into southern Italy may occur. The nature of this problem and its importance is indicated more comprehensively in the following cable sent to Murphy in Algiers:
[Here follows text of telegram 1669, May 27, 10 p.m., to Algiers, printed on page 1052.]
Several thousand Jewish refugees, according to best information available, are now in southern Italy. An important step in helping solve the problem indicated would be taken by prompt removal of these refugees to Palestine. Information desired therefore at earliest possible moment whether Palestine certificates will be granted these Jewish refugees and their prompt removal to Palestine will be facilitated by the British Government.
[Page 1056]The following should be borne in mind in taking up this matter with the British Government:
The British Government, since closing of the Bulgarian-Turkish frontier in May 1943, has been following the policy of authorizing the onward transport to Palestine of all Jews who succeed in escaping from enemy territory to Turkey, after a preliminary security check in the latter country. Another security check is made in camps in Palestine in which the British place these people. If found satisfactory, they are gradually released against the current half-yearly immigration quota, as legal immigrants to Palestine. The application of a similar policy in the case of Jews now in southern Italy would make possible the prompt removal to Palestine of such refugees. An early report of the attitude of the British Government in this matter is urgently requested. Unquoted portion of this message repeated to Murphy, Chapin and Ackermann for their information.