840.48 Refugees/12–1545
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
No. 27405
London, December 15,
1945.
[Received January 4, 1946.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s telegram No. 12928
of December 10, 1945,22
which reported inter alia that the Director of the
Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees had expressed concern to an officer
of the Embassy about the reported large scale migration of Polish Jews from
Poland, I have the honor to enclose a transcript of a letter on this subject
addressed to the Embassy by the Director of the Intergovernmental Committee
on December 13.
Respectfully yours,
For the Ambassador:
Richard A. Johnson
Third Secretary of Embassy
[Enclosure]
The Director of the Intergovernmental Committee on
Refugees (Emerson) to the Third Secretary
of Embassy in the United Kingdom (Johnson)
IC/857/118
December 13, 1945.
My Dear Johnson: I am writing to draw
attention to the situation that has arisen, and is likely to develop,
owing to the large scale migration from Poland of Jews of Polish
nationality. It relates mainly to Poles who were in Poland during the
whole of the occupation, but includes some who have returned to Poland
from territory east of the Curzon Line and a few who have returned from;
Germany. It has been in progress for several months, and estimates of
the number of such persons that have already left Poland vary between
10,000 and 20,000. The movement is mainly into Czechoslovakia, and for
some time continued through that country into the American Zones of
Germany and Austria. Many of the migrants were furnished with false
papers representing them to be of German origin, and so long as the
movement involved transit only through Czechoslovakia, facilities were
afforded by the Government of Czechoslovakia, documents being given
which assisted their onward passage. It appears, however, that about the
beginning of October, the military authorities in the American Zones
began to question the status of these persons as “repatriates”, and
their transfer across the border became more difficult. The
Czechoslovakian Government had, therefore, to reconsider the position,
and while still unwilling forcibly to deport persons who had entered
Czechoslovakia back to Poland, it is not prepared to give them
indefinite asylum in Czechoslovakia. According to information received
from the representative of the Intergovernmental Committee in Prague,
the Government might be prepared to give them refuge for a limited
period if there were a guarantee of their removal elsewhere by an
international official body and provision were made for their care and
maintenance. Meanwhile, permission is being refused to new parties to
cross the Polish-Czechoslovakian frontier. In a letter dated the 30th
November, 1945,23 the
representative has reported the presence of two parties of 500 and 600
persons respectively on the frontier, who are living in the woods in
very severe conditions. Most of them have German documents and claim
that they are returning to Germany, but this claim is almost certainly
false. There is little sign that the movement is abating.
- 2.
- From discussions with persons who have recently been in Poland,
the main causes of the migration would appear to be the following.
[Page 1213]
There was strong
anti-Semitism in Poland before the war, and this was increased by
German propaganda during the occupation; in some of the
concentration camps Polish Jews were very badly treated by
non-Jewish Poles who were used by the Germans to carry out their
brutal policy; the property of Jews in Poland, as elsewhere, was
confiscated; much of it is now in the hands of non-Jewish Poles who
are afraid that it may be taken from them and restored to the
original owners; this fear is a direct encouragement of the natural
anti-Semitism and is probably the most powerful single factor in the
alleged widespread feeling among the population that the present
time affords a good opportunity of getting rid of the Jews. Apart
from anxiety regarding their physical safety, the Jews are reported
to be strongly averse to remaining in a country where they suffered
such terrible experiences during the occupation, and where most of
them have lost one or more close relatives. On the other hand, apart
from an incident in Cracow some months ago, there has beeen no
information of the pogroms until the last few days, when somewhat
vague reports have appeared in the press. Officially the Polish
Government has condemned anti-Semitism and has expressed its desire
to retain the Jews. There is no evidence that persecution is being
encouraged in any way by the Polish Government. On the other hand,
there is no information that active measures are being taken by the
Polish Government to discourage the migration, or to remove so far
as possible the causes which are giving rise to it.
- 3.
- Hitherto the Intergovernmental Committee has not been actively
concerned with this movement. Representations regarding it have,
however, been made by private agencies, and it is not improbable
that the Government of Czechoslovakia may raise the question as to
whether the migrants come within the practical responsibility of the
Committee. Whether the migrants come within the mandate of the
Committee as defined in the Rules of Constitution would appear to be
largely a question of fact. The mandate includes persons who, “as a
result of events in Europe, have had to leave, or may have to leave
their countries of residence because of the danger to their lives or
liberties on account of their race, religion or political beliefs”.
Persecution is an essential element, and the mere fact of migration
from causes other than persecution would not satisfy the conditions
of the mandate. On present information, it is very difficult to form
a clear opinion as to whether persecution is an important element.
Since it is desirable that accurate information should be obtained
on this point, I would request that if there is no objection, I may
be given an appreciation from information in the possession of the
State Department of the causes leading to the migration, with
special reference to the element of persecution.
- 4.
- Apart, however, from the question of immediate responsibility, it
is obvious that this movement has already aggravated the general
long term problem of non-repatriables, and that if it continues and
develops into a mass migration, it will add very greatly to the
difficulties of permanent settlement of refugees. It is desirable,
therefore, that preventive measures be taken now in so far as they
may be practicable. In this connection I would make two suggestions.
First, that the Polish Government be urged to take more active
measures, than hitherto, to combat anti-Semitism now prevalent among
the population, to assure the life and liberty of Jews and to create
conditions in which they will be encouraged to stay in their own
country. Second, I would recommend for consideration some method of
restitution to the Jews which would mitigate the effect of depriving
third parties (often innocent purchasers) of property of which they
have been in possession for some years. I have in mind the creating
of a fund out of reparations which could be utilised for this
purpose. I have reason to believe that such a measure would not only
remove a powerful cause of the hostility towards Jews in Poland, but
would encourage many Jews to remain rather than to migrate. I
appreciate the theoretical objections to such a course, but believe
they are outweighed by the practical advantages, and the necessity
of quick and effective action.
I have written in similar terms to Mr. MacKillop25 of the Foreign Office.
Yours sincerely
