840.48 Refugees/12–2145
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser on Refugees and Displaced Persons (Warren)
Participants: Messrs. Acheson, Hickerson,30 Doyle,31 and Warren.
Mr. Warren advised that the Secretary of War in his letter of December 19, 1945 to the Acting Secretary of State had requested a firm policy decision with respect to the continuing acceptance in the U.S. zone in Germany of a flow of approximately 550 Jews daily from Poland. Pending the determination of policy, the War Department had requested by phone interim approval or disapproval before the Christmas holidays of the action of General McNarney in receiving such refugees to date on humanitarian grounds contrary to Military Government Law 161, and in the absence of any other directive. The group had before it the War Department letter under reference, a copy of the proposed White House release on refugees, and memoranda prepared by Mr. Durbrow and Mr. Warren.
Mr. Warren explained that Generals Eisenhower and Hilldring in describing the movement to the American members of the Anglo-American Palestine Commission had defended the policy of receiving the Polish Jews on humanitarian grounds, and had assumed full responsibility for the action. In answer to a question by Mr. Doyle, Mr. Warren explained further that living conditions in the camps in the U.S. zone which had shown great improvement following the President’s letter to General Eisenhower last summer,32 were now deteriorating because of the influx from Poland, and that the War Department feared that it might be again subjected to criticism on this account in view of the fact that the worsening of conditions would prove unavoidable if the influx from Poland were to continue.
Mr. Acheson commented that it would be very important to avoid any action or decision which would appear to be inconsistent with the spirit of the President’s directive on refugees. He also questioned Mr. Hickerson on the wisdom of approaching the Polish, Czech, and [Page 1219] Soviet Governments in the matter, and the possible effects of this action. Mr. Hickerson stated that anti-Semitism undoubtedly existed in the Polish population which the Polish Government was too weak to control, and that the attitude of the Polish population toward the Jews was a part of their resistance to the Polish Government which includes a number of Jewish pro-Communist members. He also reported that the Polish Government had advised Ambassador Lane that exit permits would be granted to Polish Jews only, and that this was an indication that the Polish Government was at least passive toward the departure of the Jews. In response to a question from Mr. Acheson he agreed that in the event that the U.S. Government shut off the flow, the Polish Government might place the blame for refusing exit to the Jews from Poland upon this Government. In the discussion which followed on this point no clear appraisal of the attitude of the Soviet Government in the matter seemed possible, and it was generally agreed that the Czech Government probably looked upon the movement as a problem to be resolved by the Soviet, Polish, United States, and British Governments.
After further discussion it was decided that Mr. Warren should advise the Civil Affairs Division of the War Department that their humanitarian action in receiving the Polish Jews to date was understood and temporarily approved, pending a final decision on policy to be determined immediately after Christmas, and that Mr. Acheson would explain the situation to the White House. It was also agreed that the interested divisions of the Department would proceed immediately on December 26 to decide upon a permanent policy.