840.48 Refugees/3–945: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
Washington, March 9,
1945—8 p.m.
998. The following for McClelland from O’Dwyer is WRB 438.
Reference your No. 1217 of February 24, and No. 1345 of March 2, 1945,56 and Department’s No. 819 of February 23, 1945.
[Page 1140]- 1.
- The Board regards as most urgent that all possible steps be taken at once for the delivery of War Refugee Board food parcels to intended beneficiaries in enemy territory. Accordingly, you are hereby authorized to procure the necessary transportation, including trucking facilities, gasoline, tires, oil, etc., from any source to be made available to the International Red Cross for (a) the delivery of War Refugee Board food packages and (b) for the evacuation of physically unfit detainees from enemy territory to Switzerland. The Board urges haste in this program.
- 2.
- The War Department today has cabled General Eisenhower57 recommending the release of 50 tons of trucking capacity with 1500 to 2000 gallons of gasoline per week and necessary lubricating oil for delivery to the International Red Cross in Switzerland earmarked for War Refugee Board operations. G–4 at Paris has been instructed by the War Department to expect your arrival in Paris and you are hereby directed to proceed to Paris at once to work out necessary details.
- 3.
- You should, of course, continue to make every effort to obtain transportation equipment from other sources including Swiss Government and private sources in Switzerland, since ultimate transportation needs may require more than 50 tons of trucking capacity.
For your information, the Swiss Minister in Washington58 has advised me that he has recommended to his government that adequate trucking facilities be released by the Swiss for this urgent War Refugee Board work.
Use your best judgment in handling complications which may arise. Please keep Board advised of all developments. [O’Dwyer.]
Grew