Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General, Volume I

740.00115 European War 1939/10084: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State

Bern, June 17, 1944—9 a.m.
[Received 8:40 p.m.]

3871. Your 1181, April 7; 1221, April 10; 1846, May 27; and 1921, June 5;⁸¹ my 2297, April 13; and your 1400, April 22.⁸² Translation material part Foreign Office aide-mémoire June 13 follows.

1. Since outbreak war passports of Latin American countries (Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador, El Salvador, Venezuela, Haiti, Paraguay) have circulated among Jews residing in German occupied territories and especially Poland. These passports were issued by Consulates of various countries mentioned in Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, New York, Japan and perhaps Poland. When such passports of countries whose interests Switzerland protects in Germany expired and when Swiss Legation Berlin was asked by bearers to renew them instructions were requested of interested Governments. In general latter refused authorize extension those passports which they did not recognize. German authorities were not informed of this fact but Swiss Legation Berlin was henceforth deprived of possibility according protection of these people.

2. A rather large number of these passports are Paraguayan. Paraguay being represented in Germany by Spain it seems that Spanish Embassy Berlin received from Paraguayan Government a list of limited number of persons who alone should benefit from Spain’s protection. Federal Political Department does not know whether Spanish Government subsequently received instructions rectifying this situation in conformity with statement of Paraguayan Government mentioned second paragraph American Legation’s memorandum April 10 (your 1181).

3. A certain number of bearers Latin American passports generally Eastern European origin secured admission to American civilian internment camps which are under control Ministry Foreign Affairs Berlin such camps being administered by analogy in accordance with POW Convention. These persons thus virtually became candidates for an exchange of civilians between Germany and American countries. On other hand those who stayed in Poland remained under regulations governing other eastern Jews. Recently a census was taken of internees at Vittel and Compiegne and a group of Jews were removed from these, camps. This seems to have involved in certain cases bearers of Latin American passports whose validity was questioned.

4. At time contents American Legation’s April 14 notice (your 1221) was delivered German Government, German police had already removed from Vittel and Compiegne Jews who had not been able establish American nationality. From verbal statements made to Swiss Legation Berlin by official of German Foreign Office it appeared latter seemed glad of opportunity while there was still time to support United States recognition of any one claiming ties with a Latin American country as exchangeable. German Foreign Office would be ready consider in future as eligible exchange all Jews bearing Latin American identity documents interned in these camps as well as those elsewhere known to German Foreign Office against Germans in United States who desire return to Germany.

5. It would therefore seem logical to admit that desiring to establish as large a basis as possible for foreseen exchanges German Foreign Office will do all possible to exempt from deportation Jews bearing Latin American passports provided these Jews will be effectively covered in an exchange agreement.

6. According Swiss Legation Berlin there are still said to be in Poland bearers of Latin American passports who until now have neither been interned nor considered for exchange. It seems that best protection they could be given would be for interested Governments officially to recognize all Latin American passports held by Jews in Germany or German occupied territories and so to declare formally through protecting power. Of countries whose interests Switzerland protects in Germany until [only] Venezuela and El Salvador have recently made such declarations through intermediary of Federal Political Department. Honduras, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Nicaragua⁸³ have not as yet individually confirmed attitude which should result from steps taken by Department of State with various Latin American countries mentioned second paragraph American Legation’s memorandum April 10.

7. Without implying any guarantee foregoing permits hope that German Foreign Office concurs with views of State Department. Concrete proposal leading to exchange of lists contained in recent communication to German Government and submitted by American Legation to Federal Political Department May 31 (Department’s 1846, May 27) should constitute a basis for practical discussion in this matter.

8. Federal Political Department must, however, submit following to attention Legation: arrangements under consideration will be effective only to extent that number of persons holding passports and other identity documents issued in names of Latin American Republics corresponds to that of German citizens whose repatriation may be considered. It has come, however, to attention of Federal Political Department that recently again documents of this type are said to have been issued by hundreds.

Information relative to success of steps undertaken with Spanish Government referred to in paragraph 2 of above note by American Embassy Madrid would be appreciated.

9. Finally essentially precarious status which one hopes to assure Jewish bearers of Latin American passports could be compromised by any publicity whatsoever given to action now being taken.

Harrison

81. Telegram 1921 not printed.
82. Telegram 1400 not printed.
83. Telegram 2316 of July 6, 1944, midnight, transmitted to Bern a paraphrased portion of a Nicaraguan communication of April 22 to the Swiss Foreign Office requesting the Swiss to ask the German Government for application to all internees in concentration camps who were bearers of Nicaraguan passports of international conventions covering prisoners of war (740.00115 E.W. 39/10084).