Office of the Historian

867N.01/10–1945

The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Halifax)

The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the British Ambassador and has the honor to state that in view of the [Page 786] earnest desire of the Government of the United States to assist in alleviating the situation of the Jews in Europe who have been the victims of Nazi and Fascist persecution, and in view of its deep interest in the future of Palestine, the Government of the United States would be prepared to accept an invitation from the British Government to participate jointly with the British Government in a Committee of Inquiry, under a rotating chairmanship with the following terms of reference:

  • “1. to examine the political, economic and social conditions in Palestine as they bear upon the problem of Jewish immigration and settlement therein and the well-being of the peoples now living therein.
  • “2. to examine the position of the Jews in those countries in Europe where they have been the victims of Nazi and Fascist persecution, and the practical measures taken or contemplated to be taken in those countries to enable them to live free from discrimination and oppression, and to make estimates of those who wish, or will be impelled by their conditions, to migrate to Palestine or other countries outside Europe.
  • “3. to hear the views of competent witnesses including representative Arabs Jews on the problems of Palestine as such problems are affected by the conditions subject to examination under paragraph (1) and (2) above and by other relevant facts and circumstances, and to make recommendations to the governments of the United States and Great Britain for the ad interim handling of these problems as well as for their permanent solution.
  • “4. to make such other recommendations to the governments of the United States and Great Britain to meet the immediate needs arising from the conditions subject to examination under paragraph (2) above, by remedial action in the European countries in question or by the provision of facilities for immigration to and settlement in countries outside Europe.”

It should be understood, however, that the Government of the United States in expressing its willingness to accept an invitation to participate in the proposed inquiry is not necessarily associating itself with the observations made in the memorandum of October 19, 1945, handed to Secretary Byrnes by Lord Halifax. The President has made known to the Prime Minister his views with regard to the migration of Jews from Europe to Palestine. Although the President appreciates the complexity of the problems involved, he still adheres to the views that he has expressed.

Washington , October 24, 1945.