Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General, Volume I

840.48 Refugees/7–2944: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, July 29, 1944—5 p.m.
[Received July 29—3:55 p.m.]

6040. For Department and WRB. Hungarian authorities have informed International Red Cross Committee that Jewish children under 10 years of age, who have necessary visas, may leave Hungary. British FO⁴² is today telegraphing your British colleague^42a instructing him to approach the Government to which you are accredited to express hope that it is prepared to receive these children and to reaffirm previous assurances that any necessary supplies will be made available through the blockade for the care of these children. Although we have received no specific instructions from the Department concerning these particular children, the approach to be made by your British colleague is clearly in line with general instructions previously received by this Embassy from the Department and War Refugee Board, and is consistent with the policy we have been directed to further. Embassy suggests, therefore, that you may wish to concert action with your British colleague.

Foregoing sent Stockholm as No. 295, Bern as No. 230, Lisbon as No. 142, Madrid as No. 116 and Ankara as No. 46. This suggestion is being made to you directly by Embassy in view of our understanding that FO is requesting the British representatives to take immediate action and there is, therefore, insufficient time to refer the matter to the Department.⁴³

Winant

42. Foreign Office.
43. See first sentence of last paragraph of this document.
43. Substantial relief was later provided by the Red Cross in Hungary; private funds which the Board had arranged to have sent abroad for relief purposes were spent by the Red Cross in connection with these activities.