840.48 Refugees/8–2746: Telegram
The Chargé in Italy (Key) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received 3:50 p.m.]
3621. Re Deptel 1610, August 14. Pro Memoria received today from Italian Foreign Minister in reply to request for entry 25,000 Jewish refugees states in substance that:
- 1.
- Italy’s long standing hospitality to refugees of every country has resulted in presence Italy today of many hundred thousands of foreigners, for most part undesirable, while number of Jewish refugees amounts to several tens of thousands; because of strong demographic pressure the population of Italy suffers consequences this situation.
- 2.
- Insofar as proposed additional refugees would be cared for by UNRRA they would be in effect a charge on Italy because UNRRA’s expenditures for the purpose would be subtracted from funds which should be destined for reconstruction needs.
- 3.
- Furthermore such refugees would obtain greater part of their food from Italian market thus reducing supplies available for needy Italian population.
- 4.
- It must also be noted that many of foreign refugees in Italy are engaged in illicit occupations and constitute permanent danger to public order.
- 5.
- Until recently entry of Jewish refugees in Italy partly offset by exodus toward Palestine a situation well regarded by Italian authorities since it led to progressive relief of congestion of Jewish refugees in Italy; but such exodus has been suspended and Italy worried because at present impossible foresee when these tens of thousands of Jewish refugees will be able to leave Italy.
- 6.
- Under such circumstances a policy of Italian Government resulting in further increasing number foreign refugees Italy would not meet approval public opinion and might in long run create in Italy xenophobic sentiments and acts which have always been alien to spirit Italian people and which Government wishes to avert at all costs.
- 7.
- Consequently Italian Government deeply regrets inability to receive on Italian soil additional refugees at least not until repatriation or transfer to other countries of those already here has begun; and re Jews until their immigration to Palestine has recommenced: In such eventuality Italian Government would be pleased to extend hospitality in Italian camps to refugees in question for as long as necessary while awaiting their embarkation.
- 8.
- Meanwhile, Italian Government confident it should not prove difficult to arrange temporary settlement of these persons in countries which are from every point of view in better condition than Italy to extend hospitality to them; and confident furthermore that it would be possible to induce the countries from which they come to respect within their boundaries fundamental human rights and not to constrain their emigration until a definite haven has been found for them elsewhere, (end substance Pro Memoria.)
In transmitting letter Secretary General Foreign Ministry mentions arguments not included in Pro Memoria but which strongly affects current decisions namely already initiated exodus Italian population from Venezia Giulia.98 These tens of thousands of Italians to be grafted in destitute conditions onto population of other Italian provinces constitute extremely grave problem which Government can in no way ignore. Secretary General, nevertheless, adds confidentially that Foreign Minister continues with every effort to explore possibility of placing in Italy for strictly limited period at least a fraction (about 1,000) of Jews in question.
Full texts by air.99
Sent Dept 3621; repeated London 544, Vienna 67, Moscow 172.
- For documentation on Venezia Giulia, see vol. iv, pp. 299 ff.↩
- Not printed.↩