867N.01/9–1745: Telegram

The British Prime Minister ( Attlee ) to President Truman 37

9. I am now in a position to give you a considered reply, which I am telegraphing in order to save time, to your letter of August 31 enclosing a copy of Mr. Harrison’s report.

I am sure you will appreciate the very grave difficulties that have confronted our representatives on the Control Commission and from my own investigation of the matter it is quite clear that they have endeavoured to avoid treating people on a racial basis. Had they done this then there would have been violent reactions on the part of other people who had been confined to these concentration camps. One must remember that within these camps were people from almost every race in Europe and there appears to have been very little difference in the amount of torture and treatment they had to undergo. Now, if our officers had placed the Jews in a special racial category at the head of the queue, my strong view is that the effect of this would have been disastrous for the Jews and therefore their attempt to treat them alike was a right one. After all, the situation in Central Europe is appalling. The number of displaced persons, refugees from concentration camps, the violent driving of people from one territory to another, is one of the most horrible events in human history. So concerned are we about the starvation generally in that area that we have been taking steps to try and prevent epidemics arising and spreading to other countries. On this matter we shall be communicating with the State Department as soon as possible.

With reference to immediate relief there is a camp at Philippeville, North Africa, capable of taking 30,000 and another one at Fedala with a capacity of 5,000. I suggest that, in order to relieve immediate suffering, these two places be used. I understand that UNRRA have it under their control. It would of course involve our commanders in the task of sorting them out. This, however, should relieve the situation.

In case of Palestine we have the Arabs to consider as well as the Jews and there have been solemn undertakings, I understand, given by your predecessor, yourself and by Mr. Churchill that, before we come to a final decision and operate it, there would be consultation with the Arabs. It would be very unwise to break these solemn pledges and so set aflame the whole Middle East. I know you realize that as things are the responsibility of preserving order with all the consequences involved rests entirely on this country.

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As I mentioned in my earlier telegram the Jews are not now using the numbers of certificates available and up to the present have not taken up the 1,500 available for this month which was offered them. Apparently they are insisting upon the complete repudiation of the White Paper and the immediate granting of 100,000 certificates quite regardless of the effect on the situation in the Middle East which this would have.

In addition to this problem we are engaged upon another related one and that is India. The fact that there are ninety million Moslems, who are easily inflamed, in that country compels us to consider the problem from this aspect also. Therefore, while sympathising with the views of Mr. Harrison and weighing them very carefully, we believe that the suggestion which he has made raises very far-reaching implications, which would have to be most carefully balanced against the considerations which I have set out above. We have got the matter under urgent examination, with a view to the formulation of a long-term policy which we propose to refer to the World Organization as soon as practicable. Meanwhile we are considering how to deal with the immigration problem in interval and I shall be very happy to let you know as soon as I can what our intentions are in this matter.

  1. Copy of telegram transmitted to the Acting Secretary of State (Acheson) by Adm. William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, in a memorandum of September 17, 1945, not printed.