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

840.48 Refugees/8–2244: Telegram

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

London, August 22, 1944—1 p.m.
[Received August 22—10:16 a.m.]

6784. Embassy represented at informal conference yesterday evening discuss steps to be taken to implement acceptance of Hungarian offer respecting Jews. Present were two members refugee section Foreign Office, Director and Vice Director IGC and representatives of Ministry War Transport, Admiralty and Treasury. Professor Arthur Goodhart who is to represent the War Refugee Board also attended.

Director IGC submitted memorandum proposing following steps be taken immediately by American and British Government in order to get relief program under way without delay:

1. American and British Governments to ask Intercross:

(a) To carry on necessary discussions with Hungarian Government.

(b) To use its influence toward good treatment of Jews in Hungary and especially toward cessation deportations.

(c) To inform American and British Governments and IGC of all developments particularly any renewal deportations.

(d) To select persons to make up early contingents of Jews leaving Hungary.

(e) To provide relief inside Hungary.

(f) To report on practical routes of removal refugees from Hungary.

(g) To cooperate with special Swedish Government representatives in Hungary handling refugee matters.

Remaining paragraphs director’s memorandum are explanatory of points covered above and give certain views of director. They are substantially as follows:

2. Persons included in early contingents should be (a) children and (b) persons to whom Palestine certificates available. Canada should be approached to grant 1,000 visas to supplement 5,000 American visas transferred from children in France to children in Hungary. Portugal might also be asked to give temporary refuge 3,000 children.

3. Pending Intercross report best routes apparently are (a) to Switzerland, (b) overland through Bulgaria to Palestine (c) overland to Sweden (d) to Rumania thence by sea to Palestine. Intercross might be asked investigate safe conduct possibility for (d).

4. Regarding maintenance in Hungary Intercross should be encouraged to press Hungarian Government to allow Jews to use own resources for self-support. If necessary to provide maintenance Intercross can use private funds available to it through licenses issued by United States Treasury to JDC.⁶² If these insufficient further funds may be made available by IGC. American and/or Swiss currency should be sent to Hungary if sufficient Hungarian currency cannot be bought in Switzerland. Private funds should be used as long as they last after which IGC should request further funds from British and American Governments under operational expenditure arrangements.

5. [If?] IGC is given responsibility for maintenance refugees in neutral countries it should be associated with approaches to those countries. IGC feels it should handle such maintenance. Switzerland and Sweden may well refuse to accept outside financial assistance but will undoubtedly want guarantee regarding additional supplies. American and British Governments might wish to reaffirm guarantees already given.

6. Arrangements for exit through Balkans best handled by Intercross and American British Ambassadors Ankara in cooperation with WRB and with Jewish agency for Palestine when destination is Palestine.

7. Foregoing proposals would enable immediate beginning of action and early start is considered essential. Looking further ahead in addition to neutral countries temporary refuge could be arranged Tripolitania and Fedhala camp might accommodate a thousand. Brazil and Mexico might respond if American and British Governments show they are taking practical measures to receive considerable numbers in their own territories.

This ends summary of director’s memorandum.

Respecting finance Treasury representative said estimate of cost would be required in order draft special appropriation bill but had no anxiety regarding obtaining amount needed. Ministry War Transport representative said evacuation ship could be ready on 30 days notice but safe conduct essential. Admiralty representative emphasized impracticability water transport without safe conduct because of hazards of Aegean Sea dominated by German air power.

Foreign Office representative said IGC proposals (a) through (g) were in agreement with views of British Government and that they would be cabled with explanatory comments to British Legation Bern.

In answer to specific question Embassy representative said that while he was without instructions and could give no formal assurances he had discussed whole subject with DuBois WRB and believed that proposals were in accordance with views of WRB.

Director IGC said he desired IGC to take more active part in meeting Hungarian offer than acting merely as fiscal agent.

General consensus was that quick action by American and British Governments most necessary even though rapid development military situation may actually render large migration from Hungary superfluous.

Please inform WRB.

Winant

62. American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.