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

840.48 Refugees/7–1344: Telegram

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

Washington, July 13, 1944—midnight.

2407. The following for Harrison and McClelland refers to Bern’s 3871 of June 17 and is 64 from War Refugee Board.

Board requests expression to Foreign Office of its sincere appreciation for latter’s cooperation. Switzerland’s deep concern for the fate of victims of Nazi persecution recognized by Board which is confident that some degree of success must result from continued efforts of Swiss and American Governments.

1. The United States practice, as you know, relative to renewal of passports held by persons in enemy territory, is not to authorize extension thereof beyond their validity period of two years. Swiss identity certificates nevertheless being issued to holders of such passports by Swiss authorities. Adoption of similar practice is suggested, if necessary, in the case of passports issued in the names of other American republics, whose interests in enemy territory are protected by Switzerland. Premise on which this suggestion based is that while a passport’s duration as a travel document is limited to the period of its validity, its value continues as prima facie evidence of nationality. The Board accordingly understands that the request to Switzerland to extend protective action to all persons threatened with enemy persecution who hold passports and other documents issued in the name of the American republics applies without regard to the time limit indicated in any such passport until affirmatively advised to the contrary by the Government concerned. Less value would be attached to a passport than to a simple consular letter certifying national status if it were held otherwise. Discussion of this matter with appropriate Swiss authorities requested, also endeavor to obtain their cooperation in developing some procedure that, regardless of their extension, will assure continued protection of holders of expired Latin-American passports. In the interest of avoiding delay it is greatly hoped that the Swiss can carry out foregoing without communicating further with any of the governments concerned. Please advise regarding such governments and the changes of procedure required to achieve the foregoing however if this result cannot be procured by the Swiss without instructions from the governments whose passports were issued.

2. Extension of protection to all holders of Paraguayan documents requested by Paraguay of Spain in May it is understood. The United States and certain other American republics requested Spanish assistance in accomplishing return of deportees from Vittel. The Spanish Government on April 19 stated it would try to learn the facts at earliest possible time with view toward attempt arrangement these refugees return. In reply to request by Nicaragua the Spanish Foreign Minister early in June offered the use of his good offices to procure the return thereto of any bearers of Nicaraguan passports who might have been removed from Vittel.

3. Assistance of Swiss authorities in ascertaining identity and whereabouts of all persons holding passports or other documents issued in the name of any American republic removed from Compiegne and Vittel and other civilian internment camps, and their utmost efforts to secure the return to such camps of such persons is earnestly requested.

4. The German readiness to consider all Jews interned in these camps who bear identity documents as well as those elsewhere known to the German Foreign Office as eligible for exchange against Germans desiring to be repatriated has been noted, also the German readiness to accept, as a basis for the treatment and eligibility for exchange of such persons, the recognition of their status by the United States. Consequently, it is assumed German authorities henceforth will not pass on the validity of Latin-American documents. Kindly confirm. Recognition of status by the United States will alone suffice, it would appear, with the Germans not considering affirmative approaches by individual Latin-American countries as essential. Please explore with Swiss authorities, on assumption that we properly state German attitude, the possibility of proceeding on this basis. The circumstances making action on this basis desirable in speedily achieving humanitarian results are fully known to the Swiss we assume.

5. This Government has been authorized by Honduras and Costa Rica, to transmit to Switzerland their requests for the protection of persons holding passports issued in their names. It is assumed that word relative thereto has been forwarded to the appropriate Swiss authorities. In this connection, please refer to Department’s 1632 of May 10 regarding Honduras and 1993 of June 10 concerning Costa Rica.¹⁸ A similar communication is being sent you by Guatemala. According to information received here, a telegram requesting safeguarding of persons claiming Ecuadoran nationality was sent by Ecuador to Swiss Government early in May. Similar instructions, it is also understood, were cabled from Montevideo on June 15 to Uruguayan minister at Bern, relative to persons holding Uruguayan documents.

6. Your attention is drawn, relative to persons eligible for exchange, to the problem of persons in enemy-controlled areas in whose names Latin-American documents have been issued, but who, because delivery has been impossible, are not in physical possession of these documents. Please obtain from available sources names, ages and last known addresses of such persons, in order that they may not be disadvantageously placed due to this circumstance beyond their control. Please consult Saly Mayer,¹⁹ Riegner,²⁰ Sternbuch²¹ and other representatives of rescue organizations on this subject. When such list is formulated, please notify Board, stating your views and informal opinions of Swiss authorities regarding advisability, in effort to protect such persons, of making the same available to the Germans.

7. Hungary is included, it should be noted, in the term “German controlled” territory, as used in this message and in all other communications dealing with protection of persons holding documents issued in the names of American republics. The Swiss authorities may be informed accordingly and requested to transmit such information to the German and Hungarian authorities, if there is any possibility of doubt on this score. Please inquire and report in this connection which American republics, if any other than the United States, are represented in [by?] Switzerland and [in?] Hungary. [War Refugee Board.]

Hull

18. Neither printed.
19. A Swiss citizen, leader of the Swiss Jewish Community and representative in Switzerland of the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
20. Gerhard Riegner, Swiss representative of the World Jewish Congress.
21. Isaac Sternbuch, representative of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada.