840.48 Refugees/7–344: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 4—4:40 a.m.]
4223. Notice number 1: Swiss Legation Berlin has no knowledge of camps Bostortost Silesia and Bergau near Dresden but will nevertheless immediately undertake all necessary measures with a view to establishing both nature and object thereof. Reports concerning said camps will be transmitted earliest possible.
For some time in connection with foregoing there have been held internment camp of Bergen-Belsen near Celle, Hanover whose inclusion civilian exchanges is contemplated but not possessing American citizenship or citizenship other Swiss represented countries.
[Page 1083]“Alien relatives” that is, those close relatives of American nationals not possessing American citizenship are not being admitted internment camps reserved for nationals of American nations. While awaiting exchange they are detained in above-mentioned temporary camp in which are held, for example, persons approved for Palestine Civilian Exchange but not possessing British nationality. (Note: Please see penultimate paragraph Department’s 1846, May 27, indicating more lenient attitude in this regard.)
It is appropriate to indicate with respect to remainder of Department’s 192199 that to the knowledge of Swiss Legation no authentic national of American nations has been deported or otherwise deprived of rights resulting from his American nationality except for Venezuelan family Malkowsky and Chilean families Gorlin and Frumkin on whose behalf Swiss Legation made repeated representations as a result of their removal during April from Vittel.
German authorities continue to treat persons in question as nationals of American nations even in cases where respective governments on basis of information furnished by Swiss authorities have not definitely ruled regarding their status.
Polish and other Eastern European Jews, it is quite possible, thought it advisable to obtain a false Latin American passport. German authorities have subjected them to general treatment accorded to eastern Jews having established that these documents not authentic. As persons concerned have not had possibility approach Swiss authorities cases this character not generally known to the Legation.
Formal assurances, limited to persons who were on May 11 in civilian internment camps reserved for nationals of American continent, were only given on that date by German Foreign Office to Swiss Legation.
No protection could be assured persons possessing more or less doubtful passports in eastern territories except by furnishing appropriate lists to German Government and communicating declarations similar to those which Honduras and Venezuela recently made in stating even more the declaration regarding all identity papers of Latin American countries of every kind found to be in possession of persons concerned.
Notice 2.
A. None of persons removed from Vittel had been able furnish proof Latin American nationality according statement made May 3 by chief competent section German Foreign Office to representative Swiss Legation Berlin in reply to latter’s request. For most part these persons are Jews from east who previously claim to be Paraguayan [Page 1084] nationals or nationals other American countries. They were assimilated on the basis of this declaration with nationals of countries at war with Germany and under protection Swiss Legation. They were consequently interned in camps reserved for nationals of Latin American Republics, United States and Great Britain.
These persons it developed in due course possessed no proof of nationality which they claimed. Consequently they were removed from camp where they had no right to be. It was further stated by competent German Foreign Office official that he could not accede to Legation’s request for list of persons removed from Vittel because question merely involved internal German police measures and persons concerned had no right to Swiss protection. (Legation’s telegram No. 3171, May 181 summarized this representation.) Deportation measures taken at Vittel and Compiegne have affected no United States national according to the statements secret Counselor Sethe. The Swiss Foreign Office transmitted during April to Swiss Legation Berlin the list bearing 238 names deported from Vittel as result of measures taken by Germans which received from American Legation.
None of these persons appeared in Swiss Legation’s register of United States nationals—it was established following examination. Swiss Consulate at Paris somewhat later forwarded list of 163 persons deported from internment camps to the Swiss Legation. The authorities of occupation furnished this list and none of these persons claimed American nationality.
United States false passports are practically nonexistent. German authorities have shown greatest reserve regarding deportation American nationals as this fact is shown [known?] to them. It is against persons claiming Latin American citizenship that “cleaning” of internment camps is directed. It rests on fact that Jewish population in Poland and other Eastern European regions is in possession very large number false Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Haitian, Honduran, Ecuadoran, Paraguayan and Nicaraguan passports.
B. It was disclosed by an examination of two lists of persons removed from Compiegne and Vittel camps forwarded to Swiss Legation that large number internees concerned alleged to be Paraguayan citizens. Swiss Legation has not been able to determine whether persons concerned have claim to Paraguayan citizenship because Spanish Embassy Berlin represents Paraguayan interests in Germany and occupied countries.
Among persons appearing on lists in question only following bearing numbers corresponding to those of list from Swiss Consulate [Page 1085] Paris (Note: Transmitted to Department with Legation’s airmail 8466, June 122 pursuant Department’s telegram No. 2001, June 102) were known to Swiss Legation:
143 Saul Malcowsky, Venezuelan; 144 Sara Malcowsky, Venezuelan; 145 Maurice Malcowsky, Venezuelan; 1 Eugenia Gorlin, Chilean; 2 Anna Frumkin, Chilean; 3 Hermine Frumkin, Chilean.
Chilean Legation Bern stated in note November 4, 1943 that as passports of Gorlin and Frumkin families were issued by Chilean Consulate Kobe, they were to be considered invalid as all documents issued by this Consular representation. It was declared by Chinese [Chilean] Legation in note of March 30, 1944 that deportation above named persons had come to its attention and Swiss Legation Berlin was requested by it to undertake on their behalf all necessary representations.
German Foreign Office in notes dated May 5 and June 20 considered cases of Gorlin and Frumkin families and strong representations for return to an internment camp of these Chileans were made. On behalf of Malcowsky family similar representations made.
C. Authorization of German authorities have been sought by Swiss Legation to have representative Swiss Consulate Paris visit Vittel Camp with a view to informing American internees of communications from their Government (note: please see penultimate paragraph Department’s 1222, April 103 and its 1269, April 13). Camp will be visited near future as authorization given in principle.
D. Every opportunity taken by German authorities to reiterate that there has been deported no internee able furnish proof Latin America citizenship or American nationality. Relatively large number of persons, German authorities observed, claimed citizenship of South America Republic supporting this with documents evidently false or being able [unable] furnish slightest proof. These persons never left Polish territory and Spanish is not spoken by them. Right is claimed by German Foreign Police to assimilate bearers of false documents with rest of population of Poland or other occupied countries and not to recognize subject false document.
Swiss Legation Berlin following representation made by American Legation to chief of Federal Political Department requested and on May 11 obtained from German Foreign Office formal assurance that henceforth there would not be subjected to deportation action even bearers of doubtful Latin American identity papers on the condition that persons concerned already in internment camps for citizens American continent. On May 15 Swiss Minister at Berlin forwarded to chief of Federal Political Department a circumstantial report on [Page 1086] subject. No new case of deportation bearers South American identity papers reported since this representation. It has not been possible to provide any assurance for bearers of doubtful South American identity papers who were not already on May 11 in internment camps.
E. With regard to request that Swiss authorities protest to German authorities against their action in passing on “merits of individual claims of persons holding United States or Latin American documentation” it must be pointed out in admitting that above quoted term envisages priority claims for civilian exchange that Swiss Legation has often indicated to German authorities that North and South American citizens included in civilian exchange groups were often persons other than those proposed and recommended by Swiss Legation and in whom greatest interest shown by American Government.
German Foreign Office replied to these strong oral representations that German Government also had to accept persons in whom it had only secondary interest and had no voice in composition German civilian repatriation groups in America. German authorities unable in circumstances to admit that strong American representatives [representations] were well founded.
According to view Swiss Legation owing to the fact that exchange groups constituted in Germany by domestic authorities particularly police no substantial consideration being given to Swiss Legation’s suggestions satisfactory composition exchange groups can be only obtained through exchange by interested governments prior to departure of groups of formal lists. Except in cases of Malcowsky, Gorlin and Frumkin families no person able show valid claim to citizenship of American country has been deprived of rights pertaining thereto during 1944 to knowledge Swiss Legation. Additionally several hundred citizens of United States and Latin America protected by Swiss Legation whose papers forwarded through intermediary competent authorities (“pending case”) not yet recognized countries concerned. Nevertheless these persons thus far permitted remain in internment camps foreseen for citizens of American Continent. German authorities in certain number cases this category already awaiting decision for one or two years formerly [formally] inquired recently whether one or another citizens of American countries is effectively recognized by his government as such and whether he is accepted for civilian exchange.
F. All Latin American countries represented in Germany by Swiss Legation Berlin except that Sweden represents Mexico, and Spain represents Bolivia and Paraguay. The matter in question (note: recognition of individual claims to nationality of Latin American countries pending review of case by government concerned) has been taken up with Swiss Legation by no Latin American country which [Page 1087] Switzerland represents. Only Venezuela and Honduras during first half of June signified to German authorities that all bearers of identity papers issued by Venezuelan [and] Honduran Governments are to be treated in accordance with international regulations applicable civilian internees.