Office of the Historian

840.48 Refugees/6125: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt)

Washington, June 9, 1944—9 a.m.

514. For Steinhardt from War Refugee Board. Kindly refer final paragraph Ankara cable 950 of May 25 constituting Ankara no. 63 to War Refugee Board concerning a proposal submitted to Barlas by Joel Brandt for the release of Jews from enemy territory.

An Aide-Mémoire was delivered to Department by Lord Halifax British Embassy on June 5 informing this Government of this proposal. Submitted with the aide-mémoire was text of a cable received by the British Foreign Office from High Commissioner Jerusalem of which the following is a paraphrase:

[Here follows paraphrase of the cable (not printed) submitted with the aide-mémoire of June 5 printed on page 1056.]

British Ambassador at Ankara has been instructed to discuss this matter in the strictest confidence with you. Board has discussed matter with Hirschmann who is leaving on June 11 for Ankara and will convey Board’s views more fully to you on arrival. This Government is in agreement with British Government that serious suggestions by the Germans to release Jews and other persecuted minorities which are compatible with the successful prosecution of the war should be given consideration and not be rejected outright. While no definitive judgment as to the character of the offer in question has been made it is felt that it is important that the door be kept open pending further exploration of the matter. In a matter of this kind although this Government could obviously not enter into any understanding with the Germans except after consultation both with the Soviet and British Governments, the Board feels strongly that pending further developments and discussions with these two Governments every effort should be made to convince the Germans that this Government is sufficiently concerned with the problem of the rescue and relief of the Jews and other victims that it is willing to consider genuine proposals.

You should accordingly arrange to convey to Joel Brandt at once through Barlas or otherwise the fact that a special representative of the War Refugee Board who is fully acquainted with the views of the Board concerning the proposal is proceeding to Ankara and will arrive within a fortnight in Ankara. Hirschmann will act only under your instructions of course. For your information the sole purpose [Page 1062] of conveying the fact of Hirschmann’s arrival to Brandt is to let it be known that this Government has not closed the door.57

British Embassy here is being advised of this action. Kindly report urgently any further information which you may have and all developments. Sent to Ankara repeated to Moscow.58 [War Refugee Board.]

Stettinius
  1. In his memorandum of June 9 to the Acting Secretary of State, the Executive Director of the War Refugee Board stated that he had mentioned to President Roosevelt the matter of “alleged German proposal re evacuation of Jews”, and he had expressed considerable interest in the proposal and “agreed with our thought that we should keep the negotiations open if possible”. (840.48 Refugees/6–944)↩

  2. Repeated to Moscow as telegram No. 1460, adding the following paragraph:

    “Convey the foregoing information to the Soviet Government calling its attention particularly to the fact that this Government is primarily interested in keeping the question open and that no understanding with the Germans will be entered into except after consultation with the Soviet and British Governments.”

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