840.48 Refugees/6–2844: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
5529. Reference to your 5104 of June 28 made in following from War Refugee Board.
Whole-hearted agreement of British Foreign Office with the President that there must be no discouragement of escape of refugees from the Balkans to Italy noted with satisfaction by Board. Non-conformity with this Foreign Office policy of other branches of British Government indicated by recent action taken in London however. Interposition by British Military of conditions to appointment of Board’s Special Representative in Italy indicative of such non-conformance.
The War Department early in May sent a cable at request of Board to Supreme Allied Commander of Mediterranean Theater stating that Board deemed it imperative to have Special Representative in Italy who would investigate for it all possibilities of rescue and relief of minority groups in enemy occupied territory who are in imminent danger of death existent in areas adjacent to Italy. Designation of such a representative in Italy of Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees requested by Board.
The Supreme Allied Commander of the Mediterranean Theater on May 27 consented, subject only to the condition that he be attached to ACC22 headquarters, to the appointment of a Special Representative of the Board for territories adjacent to Italy. The Board agreed immediately and proposed to designate Leonard E. Ackermann, who is now its Special Representative for the Mediterranean area, as such representative in Italy. Understood by Board that only formal notification by Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington was necessary [Page 1098] before final designation of Ackermann by Mediterranean Theater Command.
Board now advised by War Department the following additional conditions to confirmation of Ackermann’s appointment been proposed by British Joint Staff Mission acting on instructions from London:
(1) No increase of flow of refugees into Italy to extent which would place any additional burden on British Military Authorities must ensue through Ackermann’s activities there; (2) Close liaison with Displaced Persons Sub-Commission and Intergovernmental Committee’s representative must therefore be maintained by Ackermann; (3) His activities must be confined strictly to investigation of all possibilities of rescue and relief of minority groups in enemy territory in imminent danger of death.
Imposition these additional conditions to Ackermann’s appointment would seriously interfere with Board’s program of rescuing victims of enemy oppression in imminent danger of death, therefore please advise appropriate British officials that Board objects thereto.
The first condition is particularly objectionable, it being inconsistent not only with view of the President (Department’s 4413 of June 3), but also with British Foreign Office concurring view that escape of refugees from the Balkans to Italy should be discouraged in no way.
The Board fully intends, relative to second condition, that Ackermann will cooperate to the fullest with agencies named. If there is any intention to subject or subordinate him to the authority of those agencies then Board objects to having such cooperation made a condition to his appointment.
Third condition is objectionable insofar as it contemplates that his activities will be “strictly confined” to investigation even though his functions in Italy will consist primarily of investigation of all possibilities of rescue and relief of minority groups in enemy territory in imminent danger of death. It might well be impossible under this limitation for the Board’s representative to take action necessary to carry out the President’s mandate to the Board (circular cable 634 of January 25), but not inconsistent with the successful prosecution of the war.
Notwithstanding the conditions involved and in order to avoid further delays, the Board has consented to Ackermann’s appointment. It would be appreciated however if you would discuss this matter with the appropriate British authorities to the end of prompt rescinding of the conditions to which objection is made. [War Refugee Board.]
- Allied Control Commission.↩