840.48 Refugees/1875

The Secretary of State to Mr. James N. Rosenberg

Dear Mr. Rosenberg: I have seen your telegram of September 25, 1939, addressed to Mr. Pell, of the European Division,81 explaining [Page 149] that “there is a genuine opportunity for immigration” into the Dominican Republic and stating that you are most anxious to aid in a “humanitarian, constructive effort along these lines.” You indicate, however, that before taking a definitive position you would wish to know officially from the Department of State that the establishment of a settlement project in the Dominican Republic has the approval of this Government.

Mr. Pell has also told me of the detailed explanation of the situation which you are facing furnished by Mr. George Warren, the Executive Secretary of the President’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees. Mr. Pell has informed me, moreover, that, provided the details can be satisfactorily arranged, there will be formed in New York a corporation with approximately $1,000,000 of authorized capital which will be a non-profit corporation and which will engage in efforts to aid or to bring about immigration of refugees into the Dominican Republic under agreements with the Government of that country.

The Department of State is most grateful for your explanation and the supplementary information furnished by Mr. Warren. We are familiar with the project, having examined the report of the Commission of Inquiry which visited the Dominican Republic at the instance of the President’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees. I assure you that this project is in line with the views of the Department of State and that there is no objection on our part to this undertaking.

Sincerely yours,

For the Secretary of State:
Adolf A. Berle, Jr.
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