840.48 Refugees/12–2544: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 25—10:30 a.m.]
11434. For Department and WRB. An informal meeting was recently held by Emerson, Director of IGC, Mason, Head of Refugee Section of Foreign Office, and representatives of the Embassy and WRB to discuss the position of Jews in Rumania. Emerson noted that the aiding of Rumanian Jews in Rumania, now liberated territory, was strictly speaking not within IGC mandate but that IGC had a very real interest in making it possible for Rumanian Jews to make a living in Rumania thus obviating their leaving and becoming a serious and perhaps the major problem of IGC.
According to Emerson’s information there are about 450,000 Jews in Rumania of whom 200,000 are now without means of livelihood. These destitute persons are principally the Jews who formerly were engaged in commerce and who lost their property, and hence have no means of existence. The other 250,000 are mainly professional men. artisans, et cetera who through their services can now make a livelihood. There are estimated to be 30,000 ardent Zionists who will wish [Page 1191] to leave the country in any event, but unless means can be found of rehabilitating such of the 200,000 destitute Jews who are not Zionists, they too will endeavor to emigrate.
Provided Department finds it advisable to take similar action with respect to American member of Allied Control Commission in Rumania, Foreign Office is ready to instruct the British member of Commission to take up with Commission the question of rehabilitating Rumanian Jews. Foreign Office believes that Commission should approach the new Rumanian Government with a view to expediting and expanding action in the rehabilitation of Jews. (This action should be taken not by way of complaint since new government apparently has initiated steps to relieve plight of Jews but as means of helping such relief measures). Foreign Office also believes that the rehabilitation of Jews and the restitution (so far as it is feasible) of their property can be connected with armistice terms. Foreign Office deems it inadvisable to mention to Commission at present time IGC interest in this matter. IGC hopes to send at a later date when practicable a representative to Rumania to examine position of Jews.
Emerson requested that State and Foreign Office ask their members of Allied Control Commission and their political representatives in Rumania to report regularly on the position of Jews there.65 He hoped that as much of this information as possible would be given to IGC.
Department’s instructions requested by telegraph.
- The question of rehabilitating Rumanian Jews was subsequently referred to the Allied Control Commission through its British and American members.↩