840.48 Refugees/6269b: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1470. [Here follows report received from Bern on situation of Jews in Hungary.]
Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 3 issued the following statement signed by Senators Barkley, Capper, [Page 1065] Clark, Connally, Davis, George, Gillette, Green, Guffey, LaFollette, Murray, Reynolds, Tunnell, Vandenberg and Wagner:
“The news that Germany has designated the 800,000 Jews in Hungary for death horrifies the people of the United States and all freedom-loving people. It is unthinkable that the people of Hungary should countenance the cold-blooded murder of innocent men, women and children. Hungary was once the haven of tens of thousands who fled the Nazi terror in other lands. Hungarians once shielded their Jewish fellow citizens. Now, however, the Hungarian Government has joined the Nazis in their ruthless determination to do away with the Jews. The people of Hungary can demonstrate that this unholy scheme is a betrayal of the true Hungarian spirit while there is still time. Jews can be hidden by them until such time as they may help them across the border to safety. They can refuse to buy property stolen from the Jews. Every means to obstruct the Nazis and those Hungarians who are in league with the Nazis can be used by them. Until the time when guilt and innocence will weigh heavily in the balance, they can keep watch and remember those who are accessories to murder and those who extend mercy. It is nearly that time.”
The OWI has broadcast the foregoing in the Balkan languages, French, German and Hungarian. Please endeavor to procure Soviet action along the lines suggested in the Department’s 1225 of May 1762 and by the Legation at Bern in view of the urgency of the situation and the considerations raised by the above quoted Bern message. Please communicate the text of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee statement in this connection to appropriate Soviet authorities in an effort to obtain Soviet action. The Department should be advised of any developments since your 1800 of May 2063 was transmitted. The above is a War Refugee Board message.