Office of the Historian

840.48 Refugees/9–144

Memorandum by the Director of the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees (Emerson) to the International Red Cross Delegation at London86

[London,] 31 August, 1944.

The Vice-Director and I had a talk with Mr. Burckhardt of the International Red Cross Delegation in London regarding, first, the present position in Hungary, and second, the possible means by which [Page 1143] advantage may be taken of the offer of the Hungarian Government. He has shown us a message received from the International Red Cross, Geneva, dispatched on the 26th August, 1944, regarding the present situation of the Jews in Hungary. This, like other recent information, is not re-assuring, and since it was sent events have been moving rapidly in Roumania and Hungary. With regard to the specific matter mentioned in it, I have ascertained that the British Government has already authorized the Swiss Consul in Budapest, through the Swiss Government, to make the necessary endorsement on the travelling documents of those who are on the list for immigration to Palestine, which will enable the International Red Cross to satisfy the German Authorities that there will be no difficulty about their entrance into Palestine. These endorsements will also facilitate the issue of transit visas by the Governments of the countries through which they may have to pass.

2.
We have informed Mr. Burckhardt that, following discussions with the American and British Governments, it is probable that the Intergovernmental Committee, acting in close collaboration with the War Refugee Board, will be the authority responsible for coordinating the work of:
(a)
Finding temporary homes inside Europe for those who cannot proceed direct to their places of asylum outside.
(b)
Providing maintenance where necessary, and
(c)
Assistance in transport arrangements. For those who are proceeding to Palestine, the necessary discussions in regard to certificates, etc., will be carried out by the Jewish Agency with the British Government, but the Intergovernmental Committee will keep in touch with the Jewish Agency and also with the British Government.
3.
The responsibility of the Intergovernmental Committee will not extend to negotiations with the Hungarian Government, which will, it is hoped, be continued by the International Red Cross to whom the offer was made by the Hungarian Government.
4.
The action required at present would seem to be as follows:
(a)
For the London Delegation of the International Red Cross to inform Geneva of the position of the Intergovernmental Committee.
(b)
To request Geneva to keep the Intergovernmental Committee fully informed of all developments through the London Delegation.
(c)
To concentrate on two groups as offering the most favourable prospects, first, children, and second, those on the Palestine list.
5.
With regard to children, the immediate possible places of asylum would seem to be Switzerland and Sweden, if the children can be transported there pending reception outside Europe. Of these transport [Page 1144] to Sweden may be an insuperable difficulty. We shall be glad of views of International Red Cross on this. Transport to Switzerland seems more promising, but here again, we should like to know the prospects.
6.
With regard to the Palestinian group, recent events presumably rule out the Balkan routes. If this is so, the immediate course would seem to be to obtain temporary sanctuary for them in Switzerland until they can be removed by other routes to Palestine, which events in France should facilitate.
7.
If maintenance has to be provided for those received in neutral or other countries, this will probably be done through the Intergovernmental Committee in pursuance of the Declaration of the American and British Governments.
8.
The Intergovernmental Committee looks forward to the closest co-operation with the International Red Cross.
H. W. Emerson
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in the United Kingdom in his despatch 17816, September 1; received September 6.↩