840.48 Refugees/1735: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)
Washington, July 15,
1939—noon.
540. For Pell. Your 985, July 13, 3 p.m. and 988, July 13, 6 p.m. We do not wish to oppose Winterton’s making the statement nor to condemn the principle which he puts forward. Mr. Taylor may so inform Winterton and may indicate to him the essence of the following [Page 137] which is suggested as a basis for a statement for Mr. Taylor to make after Winterton has set forth his plan at the Committee meeting.
- 1.
- Winterton’s proposal is admittedly a departure from the basis on which the Intergovernmental Committee was inaugurated at Evian.
- 2.
- The American Government has felt in the past, and continues to feel, that the establishment of the Foundation, with the proposed corollary settlement corporations, is an effective approach to the accomplishment of the objectives of the Intergovernmental Committee.
- 3.
- As regards Winterton’s proposal that governments participate financially in resettlement projects, our Government feels that if such a scheme is to receive favorable consideration by American public opinion and by Congress, certainly it must be of such a nature that it could be presented not merely as a palliative but as a solution of the problem. Thus such a proposal should be based upon mass resettlement projects over a definite period of time.
- 4.
- Of course any contribution of funds by the American Government is subject to the decision of Congress.
Hull