867N.01/1–1746: Circular Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to Certain American Diplomatic and Consular Officers and Officers in Charge of Missions 3

restricted

The Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry, after completing its series of hearings in the United States,4 will proceed on January 18th to London, via the Queen Elizabeth, to conduct a series of hearings there from January 25 to 31. Although the itinerary from that point is tentative at this time, it is expected that the Committee will depart [Page 577] for the continent approximately February 1st to visit Germany and various other countries for a period of about 1 month. While on the continent the Committee will have Berlin as its headquarters and most of the travel in other countries will be by small sub-committees. It is planned that the Committee will open hearings in Cairo on March 1. After a short stay there it will proceed to Palestine, where it plans to remain for a period of about 1 month.5

As announced by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain on November 13, 1945 the terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:

  • “1. To examine 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 and to consult representative Arabs and Jews on the problems of Palestine as such problems are affected by conditions subject to examination under paragraphs 1 and 2 above and by other relevant facts and circumstances, and to make recommendations to His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the United States for ad interim handling of these problems as well as for their permanent solution.
  • “4. To make such other recommendations to His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the United States as may be necessary to meet the immediate needs arising from conditions subject to examination under paragraph 2 above, by remedial action in the European countries in question or by the provision of facilities for emigration to and settlement in countries outside Europe.”

The Committee consists of the following members: (American) Judge Joseph C. Hutcheson, Chairman; Frank Aydelotte; Frank W. Buxton; Bartley C. Crum; James G. McDonald; William Phillips; (British) Sir John E. Singleton, Chairman; Wilfred P. Crick; Richard H. S. Crossman; Sir Frederick Leggett; Major Reginald E. Manningham-Buller; Lord Morrison.

[Here follow several paragraphs on staffing.]

The War Department has dispatched to the various Theater Commanders communications requesting that Army facilities be made available to the Committee. You are likewise requested to render to the Committee every assistance in the discharge of its responsibilities.

[Page 578]

Funds have been allotted to the Committee by the Department of State and current expenditures will be met by the Administrative Officer. Any expenses incurred on behalf of the Committee by you will be reimbursed by him in cash or by check.

Acheson
  1. Sent to 23 posts in Europe and the Near East.
  2. For statement issued by the White House on January 7, 1946, when the Committee began its hearings in Washington, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1946 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1962), p, 9. Information on the hearings held in Washington is contained in Department of State Bulletin, January 20, 1946, p. 74.
  3. For the actual itinerary of the Committee and its sub-committees, see Department of State, Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry: Report to the United States Government and His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, Lausanne, Switzerland, April 20, 1946 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1946), p. 52.