840.48 Refugees/3479: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:20 p.m.]
6943. Referring to my telegram 6561, November 20, 10 p.m. For the Honorable Myron Taylor from Sir Herbert Emerson, Director, Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees.
“In continuation of my cable 20th November I have been considering case of refugees already in North Africa. Assuming they have been or will be released many questions likely to arise regarding their welfare and political protection. It is clearly desirable that representatives of voluntary organizations such as Joint Distribution Committee, American Friends Service Committee and American Unitarian Committee should if they are ready to work there be given necessary facilities. Further it seems desirable that there should be a representative with official or quasi official status recognized by the Civil Administration who will watch the interests of refugees. Before the collapse of France the High Commissioner had such a representative in France who in close collaboration with French Government watched the interests of refugees. I suggest similar arrangement for North Africa or as alternatives that there should be representative or [of?] Intergovernmental Committee or a civil official of the United States Government. In latter case I hope I should be allowed to keep in close touch with him. In any case I think such representative should be American citizen. If you agree with this proposal would you kindly support it with the Department. Emerson.”