Office of the Historian

840.48 Refugees/1616: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State

London, May 17, 1939—noon.
[Received May 17—11:38 a.m.]

695. From Pell. Winterton has asked me to transmit the personal and confidential message through you to Mr. Taylor:

  • “1. I am very grateful for your message of May 1350 with regard to the private corporation or foundation. It was very helpful to me to have this information since we, at this end, were very much in the dark as to what was taking place in New York, although we [Page 110] heard from time to time with satisfaction that you were working very hard to bring about some concrete result and were truly grateful.
  • 2. Emerson attended today a conference at Newcourt at which were present Hailey, Bearstead, Reading, Anthony de Rothschild, Lionel Cohen, Lionel Montague, and Lucas. The trend of discussions was as follows:
    (a)
    The principle was accepted of a foundation with small capital registered in London but representing different interests, which would deal with the Internal Trust in Germany when established.
    (b)
    The question was considered whether this should be also a holding company for settlement corporations, but on the whole it was thought it would probably be better to keep the settlement corporations distinct.
    (c)
    In the latter case it would be necessary to establish a separate holding settlement corporation which would have subsidiary companies for specific schemes, the first subsidiary company being for British Guiana.
    (d)
    The conference considered that rapid progress could now best be made if there were early conference in London at which American, British, Dutch, and French interests were represented. They preferred this to sending a representative to America, since he could only represent British group and would not himself be a principal. The object of discussion at the conference would be, first the foundation, and second, the holding settlement corporation with special reference to subsidiary company for British Guiana.
  • 3. I hope you will agree that this attitude is satisfactory and that the procedure proposed is suitable. I understand that a cable is being sent to Strauss inviting American representatives to come to London. I hope you will find yourself able to help in this respect and persuade the American group to send men who are truly representative and can conclude definite arrangements.”

[Pell]
Kennedy
  1. See telegram No. 359, May 12, 7 p.m., p. 108.↩