In accordance with your timely suggestion
it would be very helpful if instructions
along the following lines were sent to the
appropriate Theater Commanders:
“The President has
instructed the Secretaries of State, Treasury
and War to take action for the immediate
rescue and relief of the Jews of Europe and
other victims of enemy persecution. In an Executive
Order issued January 22, 1944,
the President declared ‘it is the policy
of this Government to take all measures within
its power to rescue the victims of enemy
oppression who are in imminent danger of
death and otherwise to afford such victims
all possible relief and assistance consistent
with the successful prosecution of the war.’ The order establishes special governmental
machinery for executing this policy. It creates
a War
Refugee Board consisting of the Secretaries
of State, Treasury and War. The Board is
charged with direct responsibility to the
President in seeing that the announced policy
is carried out. The President indicated that while
he would look directly to the Board for the execution
of this policy, the Board would cooperate with
the Intergovernmental Committee, UNRRA, and
other interested international organizations.
The President stated that he expected the
cooperation of all members of the United
Nations and other governments in carrying
out this difficult but important task. He stated
that the existing facilities of the State,
Treasury and War Departments would be employed
to furnish aid to Axis victims to the fullest
extent possible. He stressed that it was
urgent that action be taken to forestall
the plot of the Nazis to exterminate the
Jews and other persecuted minorities in Europe.
You should do everything possible, consistent
with the successful prosecution of the war
in your theater, to effectuate this policy
of this Government. You should cooperate
as closely as possible with all public and
established private agencies who are active
in your theater in this field in this matter.
Consistent with your needs and military security
considerations, you should make communications
facilities available to these private agencies
for appropriate messages for carrying out the
policy of this Government herein stated,
keeping the War Refugee Board advised through
the Department. You should report to the
Department any recommendations which you
may have as to what you feel this Department
can do to effectuate with all possible speed
the rescue and relief of the victims of enemy
oppression.
Foreign representatives of the Department
of State and of other Government Departments
are being similarly instructed and you should
give them any possible assistance.”
I would appreciate your bringing this to
the attention of Secretary Stimson.
Henry
Morgenthau, Jr.
Jan. 28 1944