840.50 UNRRA/7–1045
Memorandum by Mr. Willard L.
Thorp, Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of State
(Clayton)7
[Washington,] July 19, 1945.
You have with you two memoranda prepared under date of July 10 on Displaced
Persons and the UNRRA problem in clarifying its functions in that regard.
One of these memoranda was submitted by Mr. Wilcox,8
pointing out the urgency of reaching agreement with the Russians on this
question. The other was prepared by Mr. Warren,9 suggesting a possible compromise between the UNRRA
suggested resolution and the Russian position.
We have now discussed this matter with the British, who agree that a solution
must be sought between the three governments, and who will work with us in
preparing a draft for presentation to the Russians in London prior to the
Council Meeting. If the occasion arises, in the course of your discussions
with the Russians, you may wish to put them on notice of our feeling that
UNRRA’s directives on displaced persons’ activities must be clarified, and
that we hope they will be prepared to discuss a compromise solution of the
present impasse in the course of the London Council Meeting.
At the meeting of the Central Committee of UNRRA yesterday afternoon, Mr.
Klentsov questioned Mr. Hendrickson as to the general policy being followed
in consulting the native country of the displaced
[Page 995]
person. Mr. Feller, General Counsel, presented the
reply. He described a number of different situations, particularly those
involving Poles, where, obviously, arrangements with the new government have
not yet been fully worked out. The real answer which he gave was that UNRRA
feels that the policy must be clarified at the London meeting. It has not taken over the Yugoslavs in Italy.
[Annex]
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of
International Trade Policy (Wilcox) to the
Assistant Secretary of State (Clayton)
[Washington,] July 10, 1945.
This memorandum discusses a problem scheduled to come before the UNRRA
Council meeting in London which may evoke sharp differences of opinion
between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. unless representatives of the two
countries can reach agreement in advance of the meeting.
The Problem
A member government of UNRRA, Yugoslavia, has raised the following
questions with UNRRA officials and UNRRA has agreed to raise them at the
UNRRA Council meeting in London in August:
- 1.
- Does UNRRA have the authority to assist displaced persons in
enemy or ex-enemy areas without the agreement of the country of
which the displaced persons are nationals?
- 2.
- Does UNRRA have the authority to assist displaced persons who
do not wish to be repatriated?
UNRRA has been assisting such persons, although the UNRRA Resolutions are
not entirely clear as to whether a member nation has the power to
prevent its displaced nationals from securing UNRRA assistance in such
cases. The U.S.S.R. supports the Yugoslav position that UNRRA does not
have such authority, whereas the United States has taken the position
that UNRRA does or should have such authority. The central question is
whether a member government of UNRRA may deny UNRRA assistance to those
of its displaced nationals whom it regards as undesirable or possibly
disloyal citizens.
A division of opinion between the United States and the U.S.S.R. on this
problem might endanger the future of UNRRA. An open split at the Council
meeting between the U. S. and the U.S.S.R. would have additional
unfortunate consequences. It is important therefore, that Mr. Byrnes or
Mr. Clayton try to get Foreign Commissar Molotov10
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to agree to the U. S. view in
Berlin11 in advance of the UNRRA
Council meeting.
The Director General of UNRRA is proposing that the appropriate
Resolution (57) be amended to give UNRRA express authorization to assist
displaced persons in all areas, except persons who have been taken into
the custody of appropriate military or civil authorities for
collaborationist or criminal activities. The proposed amendment is set
forth in page 5 of the attached UNRRA document.12
Recommendations
- 1.
- That the recommendations of the Director General of UNRRA be
supported unequivocally by the U.S. representative at the UNRRA
Council meeting.
- 2.
- That Mr. Byrnes or Mr. Clayton discuss the matter with Foreign
Commissar Molotov and such other foreign officials as are deemed
appropriate, prior to the UNRRA Council meeting, and make clear the
U.S. position.
Discussion
- 1.
- The spirit of the UNRRA Resolutions is unquestionably against
discrimination in the distribution of supplies on the grounds of
political belief. Resolutions 1, 2 and 7 may be cited.13
- 2.
- Acceptance of the Yugoslav request that assistance be withheld
from its displaced nationals who have not been designated by it,
would put upon UNRRA extremely heavy, if not completely impossible,
administrative burdens. UNRRA would almost certainly become involved
in controversies with the member governments. In case of failure of
a government or UNRRA, acting for said government, to certify
persons, UNRRA would be in the position of denying the barest means
of life to displaced persons.
- 3.
- It was certainly not contemplated by the U.S. Congress or by the
U.S. public that UNRRA aid to distressed and displaced persons would
be subject to any such local political controls. Acceptance of the
Yugoslav proposal would mean that UNRRA could not assist German and
Polish Jews who do not wish to return to their home countries. It is
difficult to imagine Congress appropriating additional funds for
UNRRA if such actions as Yugoslavia proposes are possible and
likely. Failure of Congress to appropriate funds would probably kill
UNRRA.
- 4.
- The U.S.S.R. takes the position, we understand, that since UNRRA
is a United Nations organization, its beneficiaries should not be
tainted by collaborationist activities or associations. The U.S.
position has been that it is difficult to identify
collaborationists, that the power of member governments to declare
displaced persons ineligible for UNRRA assistance on political
grounds might easily be abused, that such distinctions would result
in gross inhumanities, and that displaced persons actually in the
custody of appropriate military and civil authorities on
collaborationist or criminal charges have not and should not be
assisted by UNRRA.
