840.48 Refugees/10–1944: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
3648. The following for Harrison and McClelland is WRB 236. Appreciate information and suggestion in your 6938 of October 19.32 Accordingly Vatican is being approached. It has been requested to send information directly to you.
You are requested however, without awaiting Vatican’s reply, to approach Swiss Government immediately, requesting it to take immediate steps as protective power for Salvador and certain other American republics to protect the persons concerned in conformity with Department’s 1181 of April 7, 1221 of April 10, 1921 of June 6 [Page 1174] [5],34 2490 of July 21, 3180 of September 14 and all others concerning Latin American document holders. It is suggested that, specifically, the Swiss Government may be able to approach the German Government and (1) to ask as to truth of report of removal to Germany or areas under German control of Jews from Slovakia holding documents issued in name of Salvador and other American republics, (2) to request information as to destination of such persons, (3) to state that such persons are under the protection of Switzerland and (4) to request that facilities for exercising such protection be immediately afforded the Swiss authorities.
The Salvadoran declaration in paragraph 6 of your 3871 of June 17 will doubtless facilitate your task in view of large proportion of Salvadoran passport holders among deportees reported in your 6938.
A similar approach concerning holders of Paraguayan passports being made to Embassy Madrid.
For Harrison. Please have this matter so handled as to preclude any recognition, either expressed or implied, of the present Salvadoran Government, such recognition being a question now under consideration by the American Republics.