840.48 Refugees/1887
The Chairman of the President’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees (McDonald) to President Roosevelt
Memorandum Recommending That the Conference of Officers of the Intergovernmental Committee on October 16–17 Be Postponed or Cancelled80
While heartily welcoming the White House conference when the invitation was extended in July, the President’s Advisory Committee now unanimously urges consideration of postponement or cancellation for the following reasons:
- 1.
- The problem of refugees from Germany has been radically changed by the war. It is too soon to appraise the changes competently and therefore to plan soundly.
- 2.
- The numbers of German refugees have been appreciably reduced because (a) emigration from Germany is now limited to old people and children, (b) foreign exchange must be supplied for transportation, (c) all transit countries have hermetically sealed their borders, (d) the full implementation of the Wohlthat Memorandum is impracticable, and (e) England and perhaps France no longer desire the re-emigration of refugees because employment is now becoming available for them.
- 3.
- Though the refugee problem as a whole has been greatly increased, the Intergovernmental Committee because of its terms of reference, the prevailing attitudes of its member Governments other than the United States, and the failure thus far to achieve comprehensive solutions in the lesser problem is not disposed to undertake the larger problem.
- 4.
- The Intergovernmental Committee has concerned itself primarily with large-scale settlement for which it is now clear that public funds will be required. The possibility of securing such funds has been reduced by the war and the consequent withdrawal by the British Government of its suggestion of last July. Meantime the relief needs of war refugees have increased so enormously that the private organizations foresee the exhaustion of their funds in the near future. Unless therefore governmental monies are made available, large scale settlement will be impossible.
- 5.
- In view of the prospect that the discussion of neutrality may continue through mid-October it may not prove strategic to give a handle for criticism by holding at the White House an international conference in which two belligerent countries will participate on a subject which vitally concerns a third belligerent.
- 6.
- The issue of neutrality may also be confused by the injection of the problem of German refugees who are considered by the public to be predominantly Jewish. Anti-Semitic spokesmen may capitalize this opportunity to accuse Jewish circles of a desire to involve the Government at a time of national emergency. Others in no sense anti-Semitic may consider that the problem of German refugees is receiving [Page 148] undue emphasis now that it is but one aspect of the total refugee problem.
- 7.
- Britain and France, preoccupied by the war, will naturally attempt to place all responsibility for action including the provision of funds on the United States Government.
- 8.
- Under all these circumstances the success of the conference will depend even more than ordinarily on the ability of the United States to make concrete proposals for comprehensive solutions and substantial contributions in public funds. To date no convincing proposals have been developed and there is no assurance of the requisite public funds.
The President’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees urges consideration of the foregoing in proposing the postponement or cancellation of the conference. Should, however, the final decision be to hold the conference, the President’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees pledges its full cooperation.
- An attached notation states: “Consulted the President Sept. 27th. The meeting is to be held. A. A. B[erle].”↩