840.48 Refugees/6225: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
5269. With reference to paragraph 1 your 4560 of June 7 the telegram quoted below has been forwarded to the American Ambassadors at Ankara, Madrid and Lisbon.
“It has been agreed by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain that in furtherance of their joint policy to use every means available consistent with the successful prosecution of the war to bring about the rescue of the victims of German persecution in imminent danger of death a joint approach in the sense of the following should be made to the blank Government:
‘The assistance already rendered by the blank Government to refugees who have fled from German controlled Europe as a result of persecution on account of race, religion or political belief is appreciated by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain. It is believed however by the Governments of United States and Great Britain that if the persecuted minority groups still remaining in German controlled Europe have further assurances that, if they are able to make their way to neutral territory, they will be received and their minimum material needs provided for until such time as they can be moved onward to other havens of refuge or repatriated to their homelands, the rescue might be effected of still greater numbers from inhuman oppression. It is feared that the death toll among persecuted minority groups win continue to increase if such assurances are not forthcoming.
In furtherance of their joint policy to use every available means consistent with the successful prosecution of the war to bring about the rescue of victims of German oppression in imminent danger of death the Governments of the United States and Great Britain appeal to the humanitarianism of the blank Government in behalf of the persecuted persons in the hope that the blank Government will find it possible to adopt as regards the reception and temporary care of refugees from German controlled Europe an even more liberal policy than heretofore.
For their part it is the desire of the Governments of the United States and Great Britain to assure the blank Government that they will be glad to arrange for the provision of such additional food and other supplies as may be required to meet the added burden on blank resources resulting from the temporary care of refugees. If needed, funds may also be supplied as well. It is the further desire of the Governments of the United States and Great Britain to assure the blank Government that they will make every effort to arrange for the onward movement of such refugees as may be received by the blank Government to other havens of refuge.’
Your British colleague is expected shortly to receive instructions substantially in the above sense and you are requested to concert with him. Joint approaches of a similar character are being made to the Governments of Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.”
The hope is entertained that the British Government will immediately instruct its Ambassadors in a similar sense at these three capitals.
As proposed in Department’s 3953 of May 18, telegrams have also gone forward to Bern and Stockholm. The British Ministers there, it is understood, have already received similar instructions.