760.00/8–1751: Airgram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Sweden 1
A–108. Reference is made to the Embassy’s telegram 241 of August 17, 19512 concerning recent press despatches reporting the contemplated deportation to Sweden of 200 Baltic refugees who have arrived in the United States illegally from time to time during the past few years having crossed the Atlantic in small boats. The Embassy advanced a number of compelling reasons why these people should not be deported from the United States to Sweden and urged that the Department lend its full support to legislation permitting them to remain in this country.
The Department concurs fully with the Embassy’s position that the deportation of these refugees to Sweden is undesirable for the reasons advanced in the telegram under reference. The Department considers, moreover, that such deportation action on the part of the United States might gravely prejudice the continuing efforts of United States missions in other European countries, vis-à-vis the local authorities, to secure asylum for political refugees fleeing to such countries. It would likewise complicate our efforts in the United Nations in connection with this and related objectives in the field of refugees.
The Department agrees that the foregoing reasons would justify the Department’s support of legislation permitting these persons to remain permanently in the United States, if it became evident that such were required in fact to preclude their deportation. On the other hand, since the Department’s support of such legislation could be construed as condoning the illegal entry of aliens into the United States, it appears that such support should be rendered only if clearly necessary. The Embassy will appreciate that the Immigration [Page 1291] and Naturalization Service has no authority to permit the continued stay in the United States of persons illegally therein, and under pertinent United States law must arrange and carry out the deportation of such persons either to the country of their last residence, or to their country of nationality, or to some third country willing to receive them as immigrants. (However, the deportation to Communist dominated countries of persons who have fled therefrom and who would face persecution if returned thereto is precluded by Section 23 of the Internal Security Act.) No less than six private bills plus one joint resolution, each designed to provide permanent residence for part or all of these Baltic refugees in the United States, are now under consideration by the Congress. The Department has been advised informally by the Immigration and Naturalization Service that it will not proceed with deportation proceedings against the individuals in question until the Congress has acted on the legislation which has been introduced.
The Department believes that the best course of action in this matter for the present is to allow the pending legislation to be handled in a normal way. It is further believed that, in the event that sufficient legislation cannot be secured to insure immigration status for all of the concerned persons, the Department would be able to stimulate appropriate and sufficient action on the part of certain private American welfare agencies to bring about acceptance of these persons for resettlement in other countries in the Western Hemisphere. Such a solution, in the absence of appropriate legislation, would be welcomed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The Department would be prepared to approach Congress formally in support of such legislation if at any time it should develop that such legislation were the only alternative to deportation to Sweden.
The brief but unfortunate publicity which accompanied the renewed consideration of these cases is regrettable. It appears, however, that nothing is to be gained at this time by issuing or inspiring counter-publicity which would have little basis in fact until such time as legislation may permit the Baltic refugees to remain permanently in this country. Favorable publicity is almost sure to accompany the passage of legislation on these cases.
In this connection, the Department continues to hear rumors that Baltic refugees in Sweden are outfitting considerable numbers of small boats for the purpose of travelling to and entering the United States illegally. On the other hand, the Latvian Chargé has stated that a trusted informant in Sweden advised him recently that such boats were outfitted and kept in readiness only for the purpose of escaping from Sweden in the event that Soviet armies overran that country. The Department would appreciate being advised [Page 1292] of whatever information the Embassy may have concerning this situation.