840.48 Refugees/899: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 15—3 p.m.]
1316. From Rublee. Pell was asked to discuss the present situation of the Intergovernmental Committee at the Foreign Office today. It was felt that while the possibility of my going to Germany was not absolutely precluded the chances that I would be received in Berlin were receding and the outlook for a successful negotiation with the German Government was, to say the least, less encouraging. The British Government would, of course, spare no effort to persuade the German Government to receive me, but the possibility would have to be definitely envisaged from this moment that there would be no negotiation with Germany, and that, as a consequence, some decision would have to be taken fairly promptly with regard to the future of the Intergovernmental Committee and the Director’s office.
It was made plain that the British would leave the initiative as to the future of the Committee to the United States. It was explained that the Committee was set up at the request of President Roosevelt, that the Director’s office was organized as a result of the American effort at Evian, and that therefore the British would not presume to offer suggestions as to what the future of the Committee would be. For instance, although the British would welcome the constitution of the Intergovernmental Committee as an advisory body to the League Commission, they would not propose this solution in any formal manner and would await suggestions from the United States.
It was believed that whatever was done should be done gradually. For instance, if it became clear that the German Government would not receive me and that as a consequence a negotiation with Germany was precluded, I might go home on personal business and the work of the Director’s office might gradually be transferred to the Secretary of the Committee who is an official of the Foreign Office. On the other hand, if our Government should wish to continue the Director’s office, the British would be most agreeable to maintaining the present collaboration and assisting in negotiations with the countries of settlement, notably the Governments of Latin America. There was a field of activity there, although clearly little could be done through the representatives of these countries in London, and negotiations would have to be engaged in on the spot.
Pell said he had no authority to propose a meeting of the officers of the Committee but wondered whether a meeting might not be a reminder to the German Government that the Committee was still [Page 824] in existence and might not furnish an opportunity for an airing of the present situation of the Committee. Pell had the impression that this idea was agreeable to the British and was told that it would be carefully considered and possibly an answer would be given to me at a meeting which has been arranged with Winterton tonight. [Rublee.]