501.BB Palestine/8–2648: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate at Haifa
327. Pls contact Bernadotte immediately and inform him of following:
- 1.
- Dept has rec’d text Bernadotte’s letter Aug 3 re operation Palestine truce terms in connection possible emigration Jewish DP’s US Zones Germany, Austria.
- 2.
- Pursuant Mediator’s reply (para 1 above) Dept and Army have
instructed US Mil authorities Germany, Austria adopt following
emigration procedures for Palestine certificate holders:
[Page 1349]
- a.
- Continue prohibit exit all persons identified as fighting personnel (as defined 1st sentence para VI subpara 1, SC truce resolution May 29).
- b.
- Concerning men mil age (18–45) authorize exit those persons for whom accredited reps PGI submit to US mil authorities advance clearance for emigration from zones obtained by PGI reps from Mediator. Lists such personnel submitted by PGI to Mediator for clearance will have been previously scrutinized by mil auths and certified by latter that no identified fighting personnel included thereon.
- c.
- Mil auths will permit emigration without clearance of all non-fighting, non-mil age personnel.
- d.
- Mil auths will notify mediator or Lundström at Haifa in advance of point of departure any group movement of refugees authorized exit US Zones and total numbers refugees such groups.
In formulation above procedure Dept and Army have taken into account (1) direct responsibility PGI as party to truce to carry out provisions thereof, (2) fact that emigration Jews from US zones will generally be for purpose transit France or Italy with eventual embarkation from ports those countries for Palestine. Clearance departure refugees from ports those countries will be concern govts such countries, PGI and Mediator.
If necessary repeat above to appropriate points to insure soonest contact with Bernadotte.1
- This telegram was repeated to Berlin, Vienna, and Cairo.↩