840.48 Refugees/8–1944: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
2863. The following for McClelland is WRB 130 and refers to portion of section 3 of your 5040 of August 5.
1. Similar information contained in note of Hungarian Legation, Stockholm to Swedish Foreign Office is substantially as follows:
“The right of supervision by Hungarian Red Cross representative so that further charges of brutality may be avoided has been granted to future deportees for labor service.”
2. Please suggest to Intercross, because of issue involved which is possible extermination of 400,000 Jews said to have been already deported, the urgency of contacting Hungarian officials and Hungarian Red Cross regarding immediate establishment Red Cross supervision over all camps which in the past have housed Jews deported from Hungary.
3. Transmission to appropriate Hungarian authorities of message substantially as follows should be requested of Swiss Foreign Office:
“Referring again to Hungarian communication (see your 5040 of August 5) the United States Government notes the explanation regarding Jews from Hungary contained in said communication that such Jews have been ‘placed as workers at disposal of German Government as for years was the case of tens of thousands of workers of Christian faith and Hungarian nationality.’
The United States Government would appreciate a statement, in view of German Government policy concerning Jews which United States Government assumes is well known to Hungarian Government, of measures which have been taken and are being taken by Hungarian authorities to safeguard Jews placed at Germany’s disposal against starvation and other forms of persecution and to insure humane treatment thereof.
Unless such measures are taken regarding all Jews ‘put at disposition of Government of Germany’ the Hungarian authorities will [Page 1129] readily perceive that the explanation offered would seem to vary markedly from the facts and that the Hungarian authorities responsible for placing such Jews at Germany’s disposal would be responsible for any cases of abuse.
The Government of the United States awaits with extraordinary interest an early reply to the inquiry made herein.”
Naturally you may adjust the language in your discretion in transmitting the foregoing to the Swiss Foreign Office.