840.48 Refugees/1536
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Moffat) to the Acting Secretary of State
Mr. Welles: Mr. Myron Taylor just telephoned to say that he had returned from England.
- (1)
- He had come across the feeling in certain British circles that recent political events changed the picture as far as the Intergovernmental Committee was concerned. He had taken very strongly the position that it did not change the picture in any way, that Pell should return to Berlin as soon as possible, that the Rublee plan might have to be adapted, but its basis had not fundamentally changed. I told Mr. Taylor that this was exactly our attitude as expressed in a telegram to Pell this morning.41
- (2)
- He asked whether we had received Pell’s memorandum regarding the places of settlement.42 I replied “no”. He said that if a copy were not received by mail today or tomorrow he thought it would be well worth our while to telegraph Pell to wire a copy.
- (3)
- Most of his recent work had been in connection with the organization of the Corporation.43 He had told the British that they must put their plans on paper and give him something to bring back. This they had done, and he has a preliminary draft in his pocket. From now on it is the American group which must take the ball and carry it as far as they can.
He is planning to come to Washington Sunday evening and will spend the day of Monday. He asked that we make appointments for himself to report briefly to the Secretary and the Under Secretary. In addition, he feels that he should go to the White House, tell the President in ten minutes or so what he has done, and then bring in to the President the members of the Advisory Committee in New York. He feels that we are at the climax of a Governmental effort. We have set the stage just as far as it can be set. From now on the private groups must take over the responsibility, and on their efforts will henceforth depend the success or failure of the refugee effort. Henceforth the task of the Intergovernmental Committee will be confined to try to find places for locating refugees, but the financing and the practical measures will depend upon the Corporation.
Mr. Taylor feels that this should be set forth by the President to the Advisory Committee in no uncertain terms.
He asked if we could make the requisite arrangements with the White House and telephone him back this afternoon.44