840.48 Refugees/798½
The British Ambassador (Lindsay) to the
Secretary of State
Washington, October 7, 1938.
Dear Mr. Secretary of State: I beg to enclose
herewith a message to the President from Mr. Neville Chamberlain, on the
subject of Refugees from Germany and I shall be grateful if you will forward
it to its destination.
Very sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
The British Prime Minister (Chamberlain) to President Roosevelt
I fully share your conviction of the importance both moral and practical
of the refugee problem and your anxiety that an early appeal should be
made to Herr Hitler concerning it. The German Government’s treatment of
emigrants is undoubtedly a serious obstacle in the way of a better
understanding between the German people and those of our own countries,
which is essential if we are to profit from this opportunity to create a
new and better order. Therefore it is our duty not only to do what we
can to alleviate the lot of the refugees but still more to endeavour to
bring about a realisation of the extent of the damage caused to friendly
international relations by the harsh treatment of German emigrants. I
hope as you do that it will prove possible to persuade the German
Government to make a practical contribution to the solution of the
problem and I warmly welcome your suggestion that the first suitable
opportunity should be taken of urging them to do so.
The Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Committee is now considering, in
consultation with the director, the possibility of a visit by the latter
to Berlin and we propose to consult our Ambassador in Berlin on this
point forthwith.
[Page 795]
Meanwhile I suggest that our respective Ambassadors should be instructed
to take the first opportunity of speaking to the German Government on
the lines of your message on this question.
