840.48 Refugees/6256b: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé at Algiers (Chapin)
1823. The following message is from the President for Murphy:
“I am informed that there are real possibilities of saving human lives by bringing more refugees to southern Italy from and through Yugoslavia. The escape of refugees by this route I am also informed [Page 1060] has from time to time been greatly impeded because the facilities for refugees have been overtaxed in southern Italy. Information available to me indicates that this is the situation at present and that accordingly possibilities may be lost of increasing the flow of refugees to Italy.
It is my understanding that many of the refugees in southern Italy have been and are being moved to temporary havens in areas adjacent to the Mediterranean and that efforts to increase existent refugee facilities in these areas are being made. It is a matter of concern to me that this effort be intensified to take refugees from Italy to areas close by relatively.
Simultaneously, I feel that it is important that the United States indicate its readiness to share, during the war, the burden of caring for refugees. I have decided accordingly that approximately one thousand refugees should be brought from Italy to this country immediately to be placed in an Emergency Refugee Shelter to be established at Fort Ontario near Oswego, New York, where they will remain for the duration of the war under appropriate security restrictions. Just as civilian internees from Latin American countries and prisoners of war have been brought here, these refugees will be brought in outside of the regular immigration procedure. These refugees will be well taken care of in the Emergency Refugee Shelter. At the end of the war they will be returned to their homelands.
It may be assumed by you that the Emergency Refugee Shelter will be prepared to receive these refugees on arrival. If, therefore, you will arrange for the departure to the United States as rapidly as possible, consistent with military requirements, of approximately one thousand refugees in southern Italy I will appreciate it. The representatives of the War Refugee Board in Algiers may be called upon to assist you in arranging for their departure. In effecting the prompt removal and transportation of the refugees, the full cooperation of our military and naval authorities should be enlisted.
Please bear in mind in choosing the refugees to be brought to the United States that, to the extent possible, those refugees should be selected for whom other havens of refuge are not available immediately. It is my desire however that the group include a reasonable proportion of various categories of persecuted peoples who have found refuge in Italy during the war.
Since these refugees are to be placed in a camp in the United States under appropriate security restrictions, you should bear in mind that the procedure for the selection of the refugees and arrangements for bringing them here should be as simple and expeditious as possible, uncomplicated by any of the usual formalities involved under the immigration laws in admitting people to the United States.
Please be sure however that the necessary health checks are made to avoid bringing persons here who are afflicted with any loathsome, dangerous or contagious disease. Please let me know immediately if you encounter any difficulties in arranging for the prompt departure of these refugees.[”] [Roosevelt.]
Sent to Algiers. Repeated to Naples for Kirk.