840.48 Refugees/7–2546: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4—8:50 a.m.]
1144. 1. Embassy has evidence Jews now leaving Poland illegally in great numbers via Czechoslovak frontier, with ultimate destination American zone, Germany. Rate prior to Kielce pogrom83 approximately 70 per week. Rate now 700 per day. Evidence indicates numbers involved may total 100,000.
2. According eyewitness account by Mary Gibbons, UNRRA Deputy Director General for Health, Welfare and Repatriation, who has just visited Czechoslovakia, Jews cross frontier with connivance Polish and Czechoslovak border guards and are transported by Czechoslovak railway to Bratislava. Here Soviets facilitate transit to American zone Austria, and US military authorities, Austria, send them on to Germany.
3. JDC assists with food and other help in Czechoslovakia. Apparently Jews so arriving all well provided with money.
Detailed information follows by air.84
Repeated to Berlin as 181; Vienna as 21; London as 153.
- For documentation on the Kielce pogrom, see vol. vi, pp. 374 ff., passim.↩
- Not printed.↩