A R C H I V E S1933-1940

S O C I É T É D E S N A T I O N S L E A G U E O F N A T I O N

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REFUGEES

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REG ISTRY No

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[COMMENTAIRES.]

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r HAUT COMMISSAIRE

SOUS LA PROTECTION IE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES NATIONS

20* . o9U22'/j^ 9 ■, . «h

IGH COMMISSIONER

HE PROTECTION 1GUE OF NATIONS

September 1st, 1939.

I have not written to you before because until

this morning there seemed some chance, however small,

of war being avoided. The latest news indicates

that it has begun, or at any rate cannot be long

delayed.

frwo days ago I had all my files removed to

oevenoaks, where I have taken a temporary office,

but am still carrying on from Northumberland Avenue.

I have instructed my representatives to continue

their work so far as possible, and to take measures

for the safety of their records. Lord Duncannon

has been called up for military service, and I do

not propose to replace him until this is clearly

necessary.

I am acting on the assumption that the Assembly

will wish the work to be carried on for the present

at any rate, and my budgetary provisions for the

present year are sufficient. it is of course not

possible to foresee how events will develop, what

scope there will be for refugee work during a war,

and how its present character will be changed,

restricted or extended. There are already a number

of new problems arising about refugees in England,

Monsieur Joseph Avenol, Secretary-Oeneral,

League of Nations, ueneva.

( 2 )

and I hope I shall bo able to do a gocri deal by-

working in close touch with the Government and

private organisations. The same will no doubt

be true of other countries.

I should be grateful if you would kindly let

me know whether this general and necessarily indefinite

statement of the position coincides with your own

views. My home address is 2 Knole Paddock, Belle

Orchard, bevenoaks, Kent, and, as no-one can foresee

what may happen, perhaps you would be good enough

to send a copy of your reply to that address as

well as sending the original to 16 Northumberland

avenue.

With kind regards,

SECRETAIRE GENERAL

R e n t ra n t de mee vacances en Norvèg e, Je me

s u i a a r r ê t é à Londres le v e n d r e d i , 1 e r sep tembre,

pour v o i r l e Haut Commissaire pour l e s R éfu g ié s .

S i r H e rb e r t Emerson m'a d é c l a r é que, malgré

l a guer re qui s e m b la i t a l o r s i n é v i t a b l e , i l a v a i t

l ' i n t e n t i o n de c o n t in u e r son t r a v a i l . I l n ' é t a i t

pas p o s s i b l e de p r é v o i r comment l ' o e u v r e des r é f u ­

g i é s se d é v e lo p p e r a i t à l ' a v e n i r , mais i l e s t i m a i t

que ce t r a v a i l ne d i m in u e r a i t pas e t q u ' i l pour­

r a i t même ê t r e a c c ru p a r s u i t e des a i r c o n s t a n c e s

n o u v e l le s.

Le Haut Commissaire a v a i t l ' i n t e n t i o n de

t r a n s f é r e r son bure au h o rs de Londre s e t a v a i t

lo u é à c e t e f f e t une maison à Seven Oaks, où i l

h a b i t e lui-même e t où i l a v a i t d é j à f a i t t r a n s p o r ­

t e r l e s a r c h iv e s du Haut Commissar ia t .

En ce qui concerne l e v i re m e n t des fonds

n é c e s s a i r e s pour c o n t in u e r son a c t i v i t é , i l se

m e t t r a i t en communication avec l a T r é s o r e r i e , au

b e so in p a r l ' i n t e r m é d i a i r e du F o re ig n O f f i c e .

. /5,12 septembre 1959.

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Mr. Walters.

Herewith a record or our conversation of the 28th

and Mr. Jacklin’s comments. Personally I do not think I

have anything to add to the views expressed by yourself to

Mr. Randall on this subject. It is hardly necessary to say

that I agree with Mr. Jacklin’s comments.

August 29th, 1939.

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r)Ul _ jv'ilf ^ (S- I '^ 1 1 C' U v{^ 4 . / ’,

For M. Skylstad* s Information on his arrival.

Mr. Walters informed me that Sir Herbert Emerson had

asked Mr. Randall at the Foreign Ol’floe whether or not In oase

of war he should continue hla activities in respect of the

refugees. The answer should be in the affirmative, as certain

of the activities of the High Commissioner could be performed

even in time of war and those at least shjuld be continued.

This seems administratively a sound policy, especially as there

is provision for it in the budget. Of course the question

arises as to whether in oase there is war and it Is prolonged

a new budget can be voted.

Mr. Randall informed Mr. Walters that Sir Herbert also

wondered whether he should ask the Secretary-General's view.

Mr. Walters thought Mr. Randall's views as stated above were

from the* common sense standpoint quite correct and if Sir Her­

bert wished to have definite views from the Secretary-General

he would have to write. Mr. Walters having seen the Secretary-

General informed him of the above, utrleliThe latter considered

reasonable /t/Lc- Vio*A ̂ ^ '

The question is whether the Treasury will not think it

necessary for Sir Herbert also to cut down his budget as the

other services of the Secretariat will have to do if war

breaks out. This is a matter on which Mr. Walters asked me

to reflect, and Mr. Jacklin would perhaps help me in this

connection with his views.

1

August 28th, 1939.

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URGENTMINUTE SHEET

r M. AGHNIDES

Je vous soumets ci-Joint un projet de réponse

à la lettre du Haut Commissaire pour les réfugiés

du 1er de ce mois.

Avant de soumettre ce projet au Secrétaire

Général, vous estimerez sans doute utile de con­

sulter M. Jacklin, ainsi que M. Walters, pour

savoir s'ils ont des observations à faire (voir

votre note du 28 août, avec annotations).

13 septembre 1939.

rReg. No.).

P ro je t de le ttre .-Draft.

A ) S i r H e r b e r t EMERSON;p . C . I . E . . K . C . S . I . ,

T o ) C . B . E . ,H au t Co m m is sa i r e

p o u r l e s R é f u g i é s ,1 6 , N o r t h u m b e r l a n d A v e n u e , LONDON,W.C.2

C op ie à e n v o y e r à

2, Kno le P a d d o c k , B e l l e O r c h a r d , S e v e n o a k s ( K e n t ) .

SOCIETE DES NATIONS LEAGUE OF NATIONS

GENEVE, l e s e p t e m b r e 193 9

Mon c h e r S i r H e r b e r t ,

J e v i e n s de r e c e v o i r v o t r e l e t t r e du 1 e r

de ce m o is e t Je s u i s h e u r e u x d ' a p p r e n d r e que

v o u s c r o y e z p o u v o i r c o n t i n u e r v o t r e t r a v a i l

p e n d a n t l a p é r i o d e de g u e r r e . M. S k y l s t a d

m ' a v a i t du r e s t e i n f o r m é , à s o n r e t o u r , de l a

c o n v e r s a t i o n q u ' i l a v a i t eue a v e c vo u s l o r s

de s o n p a s s a g e à L o n d r e s .

S o u s r é s e r v e d e s d é c i s i o n s que p o u r r a

p r e n d r e 1 'A s s e m b l é e ( o u l a C om m is s io n de

C o n t r ô l e , q u i d o i t se r é u n i r f i ft d e c e t t e

s e e a i f l e ) , j e s u i s e n t i è r e m e n t d ' a c c o r d av e c

l e s m e s u r e s que v o u s a n n o n c e z e t l e s s u g g e s t i o n s

que v o u s f a i t e s e n ce q u i c o n c e r n e l a c o n t i n u a ­

t i o n de l ' o e u v r e d e s r é f u g i é s . J e c o n s i d è r e ,S a--")‘uciL a f

en e f f e t , que c e t t e o e u v r e ^ e s t p a r m i l e s t â c h e sMUlrt/lMlCi. j, 4 7 ̂ * - Il £ ' c ic Va. Sc 1

l e s p l u s i m p o r t a n t e s qu ÿ in c o m b e n t à l a S o c i é t é

d e s N a t i o n s à l ' é p o q u e a c t u e l l e .

J e p r é v o i s t o u t e f o i s q u ' i l no u s f a u d r a

f a i r e d e s é c o n o m i e s , a l l a n t j u s q u ' a u 50 f i d e s

c r é d i t s v o t é s p o u r 1 9 3 9 , d a n s t o u s l e s d o m a in e s

de n o t r e a c t i v i t é , e t j e v o u s p r i e d on c de

b i e n v o u l o i r me f a i r e s a v o i r , d è s q u ' i l v o u s

s e r a p o s s i b l e , d a n s q u e l l e m e s u r e v o u s s e r i e z

à même de r é d u i r e v o t r e b u d g e t .

J e v o u s p r i e de c r o i r e , mon c h e r S i r

H e r b e r t , à 1 ' e x p r e s s i o n de mes s e n t i m e n t s l e s

p l u s s i n c è r e s .

r Mr. Ja<5^.in.

Mr. Walters.

M. Aghnides would be glad to have your observations on the draft reply to Sir H. Emerson.

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Note by Mr. .Valters

I have only one or two observations to make on this draft.

(1) I would prefer not to express the opinion that the

Refugees work is of special importance for the League, and would

venture on a third suggestion, something like this :-

"It is my view that all the useful activities now being carried on by or on behalf of the League should be maintained during the war as completely as circumstances permit".

(2) Even with the Treasurer's amôndment, I am not sure

that we have got a perfectly clear recommendation on the

financial question. It seems to me that we have to tell the

High Commissioner, first, that he must try to cut down his

estimates for 1940, and second, that even after cutting down

his estimates, he must expect in practice to be able to spend

only some 50# of whatever the Assembly may vote for his work.

(3) In view of the rather vague character of the High

Commissioner's remarks about the change, restriction, or ex­

tension of his present work, would It perhaps be useful to

suggest to him that when the dite of the Assembly is known

he might do his best to prépara for its information a report

on the war-time aspect of his work ?

September 14th, 1939

M I N U T E . S H E E T URGEN T

M. A.GHN IDE3

Je v o u s s o um e ts c i - j o i n t un n ou v e a u p r o j e t

de l e t t r e , d a n s l e q u e l j ' a i t a c h é de t e n i r compte

d e 3 o b s e r v a t i o n s de MM. W a l t e r s e t J a c k l l n .

14 s e p t e m b r e 1 93 9 . <?~flç

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Reg. No.). 2 0 A /3 9 0 2 2 /3 5 4 8 2

P ro je t de le ttre .-Draft.

A ) S i r H e r b e r t EliERS0N| ) G . C . I . E . , K . C . S . I . , «

To) C . B . E . ,H a u t C om m is sa ir e

o o u r l e s R é f u g i é e , i ô , N o r t h u m b e r l a n d Av. LONDON, W .C .2

Cop ie à e n v o y e r à

2 , Knole Pa d do c k , B e l l e O r c h a r d , Se v e n o a k s ( K en t )

.Ut^^Ly.jVVtA'VV-v)

J. V ^V

SOCIETE DES NATIONS LEAGUE OF NATIONS

GENEVE, l e s e p te m b r e 1939.

Mon c h e r S i r H e r b e r t ,

j e v i e n s de r e c e v o i r v o t r e l e t t r e du

1 e r de ce m o is e t j e s u i s h e u r e u x d ’ a p p r e n d r e

que v o u s c r o y e z p o u v o i r c o n t i n u e r v o t r e t r a ­

v a i l p e n d a n t l a p é r i o d e de g u e r r e . M. S k y l s t a d

m’ a v a i t d u r e s t e in f o r m é , è s o n r e t o u r , de

l a c o n v e r s a t i o n q u ' i l a v a i t e u e a v e c vo u s

l o r s de so n p a s s a g e à L o n d r e s .

Sous r é s e r v e d e s d é c i s i o n s que p o u r r a

p r e n d r e l ’A ss em bl ée ( ou l a Comm iss io n de

C o n t r ô l e , q u i d o i t se r é u n i r da n s q u e l q u e s

j o u r s ) , Je s u i s e n t i è r e m e n t d ’a c c o r d av e c

l e s m e s u r e s que v o u s a n n o n c e z e t l e s

s u g g e s t i o n s que v o u s f a i t e s en ce q u i c o n ­

c e r n e l a c o n t i n u a t i o n de l ’ o e u v r e d e s r é f u ­

g i é s . J ’e s t i m e , e n e f f e t , que t o u t e s l e s

a c t i v i t é s u t i l e s a c t u e l l e m e n t p o u r s u i v i e s

p a r l a S o c i é t é d e s N a t i o n s , o u s o u s s e s

a u s p i c e s . d o i v e n t ê t r e m a i n t e n u e s p e n d a n t

l a g u e r r e d a n s une m e su re a u s s i c o m p lè te

que l e s c i r c o n s t a n c e s l e p e r m e t t e n t .

D’ a u t r e p a r t , j e ne d o i s p a s vo u s

c a c h e r / q u e je p r é v o i s un e t r è s f o r t e d i m i ­

n u t i o n d e s c o n t r i b u t i o n s e f f e c t i v e s ^ l a

S o c i é t é d e s N a t i o n s , e t i l f a u d r a , p a r c o n ­

s é q u e n t ^ f a i r e d e s é c o n o m ie s c o r r e s p o n d a n t e s

d a n s l e s d i f f é r e n t s d om a in e s de s e s a c t i v i ­

t é s . J e v o u s p r i e do nc de b i e n v o u l o i r me

f a i r e s a v o i r , d è s q u ’ i l vo us s e r a p o s s i b l e ,

da n s q u e l l e mes ur e v o u s s e r i e z k même de

r é d u i r e v o t r e b u d g e t p o u r 1 9 40 .

e ^ * u . 4'ême a p r è s une r é d u c t i o n s u b s t a n t i e l l e

de s p r é v i s i o n s b u d g é t a i r e s , i l f a u t , à mon

a v i s , ê t r e p r é p a r é s à ne d é p e n s e r e f f e c t i v e m e n t

q u ' e n v i r o n 50 $ d e s c r é d i t s que 1 'A ss e m b lé e

p o u r r a v o t e r , ^ oui» l i a n t e ui1 uulla’t n t .

L 'A s s e m b l é e a y a n t é t é a j o u r n é e à une

d a t e u l t é r i e u r e , j e me p e r m e t s de v o u s deman­

d e r s ' i l v o u s s e r a i t p o s s i b l e , | d " è / ^ u e / l a

d a ^ ^ T ^ a ^ é u n i o n \ a u r a f ^ x s e ^ de, p r é p a r e

l e d é v e l o p p e

i f u g i -és

un r a p p o r t

J e v o u s p r i e de c r o i r e , mon c h e r S i r

H e r b e r t , à 1 ' e x p r e s s i o n de mes s e n t i m e n t s l e s

p l u s s i n c è r e s .

M I N U T E S H E E TURflKNT

r SECRETAIRE 31;

Je me permets de vous soumet tre o i - j o i n t

un p r o j e t de réponse à l a l e t t r e du Haut Commis­

s a i r e pour l e s R éfugiés du 1er de ce mois, basé

su r l e s o b s e r v a t io n s de MM. W a l te r s , Aghnidès e t

J a c k l i n .

15 s e p t e m b r e 1939.

rReg. No.).

20A /39022/35462

P rojet de le tt re.-Draft.

A ) S i r H e rb e r t EMERSON)GtC . i . e . . k . c . s . i . ,

T o j c . B . E . ,Haut Commisaaire

pour l e s Réfug ié s , i 6 , Northumberland Avenue, LONDON, W.C.2

Copie à en voyer à

2, Xnole Paddock, Be l le Orchard, Sevenoaks (Xent)

L.

SOCIETE DES NATIONS LEAGUE OF NATIONS

GENEVE, le septembre 1939,

Mon ch er S i r H e rb e r t ,

Je v i e n s de r e c e v o i r v o t re l e t t r e du

1 e r de ce mois e t je s u i s heureux d 'ap p r en d re

que vous croyez pouvo i r c o n t in u e r v o t re t r a ­

v a i l pen dant l a p é r iode de g u e r r e . M. S ky ls ta d

m 'a v a i t du r e s t e in fo rm é , à son r e t o u r , de

l a c o n v e r s a t i o n q u ' i l a v a i t eue avec voua

l o r s de son passage à Londres.

Sous ré s e r v e des d é c i s io n s que pourr a

pre nd re l 'A ssem blée (ou l a Commission de

C o n t r ô l e , qu i d o i t se r é u n i r dans quelque s

j o u r s ) , j e s u i s e n t i è r e m e n t d ' a c c o r d avec

l e s mesure s que vous annoncez e t l e s

s u g g e s t io n s que vous f a i t e s en ce qui concerne

l a c o n t i n u a t i o n de l ' o e u v r e des r é f u g i é s .

J ' e s t i m e , en e f f e t , .tue t o u t e s l e s a c t i v i t é s

u t i l e s a c tu e l l e m e n t p o u r s u i v i e s p a r l a S o c i é ­

t é des N a t io n s , ou sous se s a u s p i c e s , d o iven t

ê t r e m ai n ten ues pendant l a g u e r re dans une

mesure a u s s i complète que l e s c i r c o n s t a n c e s

le p e r m e t t e n t .

D ' a u t r e p a r t , Je ne d o i s pas vous ca ch er

q u ' i l s e r a i t a a g e , en r a i s o n de l a c r i s e

a c t u e l l e , de t a b l e r s u r une n o ta b l e d im in u t ion

de nos r e s s o u r c e s e t qu 'en conséquence fo rce

nous s e r a de f a i r e des économies co rres pondantes

dans l e s d i f f é r e n t s domaines des a c t i v i t é s de

1$ S o c ié t é des N a t io n s . Je vous p r i e donc de

b ien v o u l o i r me f a i r e s a v o i r , dès q u ' i l vous

s e r a p o s s i b l e , dans q u e l l e mesure vous s e r i e z

tme de r é d u i r e v o t r e b u d g e t p o u r 1940.K tfrf ttyrtArtttAA 411, Otofa i't tM- un* rtshu A l* ^

w u tâ x <tuu*htvra*fc 44 ih t/iU ( f a u t . à mon a v l o, 8-tg *— U.1V4jjhk+ C J £ enrtîtj f o j J_i t

L 'A s s e m b l é e a y a n t é t é a j o u r n é e à une d a t e

u l t é r i e u r e , Je me p e r m e t s de vo u s de m and e r

s ' i l v o u s s e r a i t p o s s i b l e de p r é p a r e r u n r a p ­

p o r t s u p p l é m e n t a i r e s u r l e d é v e l o p p e m e n t q u e ,

s e l o n v o s p r é v i s i o n s , l ' o e u v r e d e s r é f u g i é s

e s t a p p e l é e à p r e n d r e p e n d a n t l a d u r é e de l a

g u e r r e .

J e vo u s p r i e de c r o i r e , mon c h e r S i r

H e r b e r t , à 1 ' e x p r e s s i o n de mes s e n t i m e n t s l e s

p l u s s i n c è r e s .

J

r 2 0 A / 3 9 0 ü 2 / 3 6 46 2

2 4 * . • 3 ? » * 2 Ü f A S- Z.

OKÏÏKJf,, l e I l) septembre 1939.

df

Mon c h e r S i r H e r b e r t ,

J e v l e n e de r e c e v o i r v o t r e l e t t r e du

1 e r de oe mois e t Je s u i s heureux d 'a p p r e n d re que voue

o ro y e i pouvo i r c o n t i n u e r v o t re t r a v a i l pendant l a

pé r io d e de g u e r r e . U. S ky la tad m 'a v a i t du r e s t e In ­

formé, à son r e t o u r , de l a c o n v e r s a t i o n q u ' i l a v a i t

eue aveo vous l o r s de son passage à Londres .

Sous r é s e r v e des d é c i s io n s que po u r r a

p re ndre l 'A ssem blée (ou l a Commission de C o n t rô le , qui

d o i t se r é u n i r dans quelques J o u r s ) , Je s u i e e n t i è r e ­

ment d 'a c c o r d aveo l e s mesures que vous annoncez e t

l e s s u g g e s t io n s que voua f a i t e s en ce qu i concerne l a

c o n t i n u a t i o n de l ' o e u v r e des r é f u g i é s . J ' e s t i m e , en

e f f e t , tue t o u t e s l e s a c t i v i t é s u t i l e s ac tu e l l e m e n t

p o u r s u i v i e s par l a S o c i é t é des N a t io n s , ou sous ses

a u s p i c e s , d o iv e n t ê t r e main ten ues pendant l a guer re

dans une mesure a u s s i complè te que l e s c i r c o n s t a n c e s

l e p e r m e t t e n t .

D 'a u t r e p a r t , Je ne d o i s pas vous cocher

q u ' i l s e r a i t s a p e , en r a i s o n de l a c r i s e a c t u e l l e , de

t a b l e r s u r une n o ta b l e d im in u t io n de nos r e s s o u r c e s

e t q u 'e n conséquence fo r c e noue s e r a de f a i r e des éco ­

nomies co r re s p o n d a n te s dans l e s d i f f é r e n t s domaines des

a c t i v i t é s de l a S o c i é t é des Mat ions. Je voua p r i e donc

S i r H e rb er t Emerson, O . C . I . E . , K.C..S. I . , C .B .E . ,Haut Commissaire pour l e s R éfug ié s ,

16, Northum be rland Avenue,LQM^jN.

1

L. haXx 9-v«wr

j V v tvo o il/l t. l/c-«A ) J

d e b i e n v o u l o i r me f a i r e s a v o i r , d à s q u ' i l vou e a é r a

p o s s i b l e , d a n s q u e l l e m e su re v o u e e e r l e e h même de

r é d u i r e v o t r e b u d g e t p o u r 1 9 4 0 . Noue e n v i s a g e o n s une

r é d u c t i o n d e s p r é v i s i o n s b u d g é t a i r e s , n u l s s u r t o u t po u r

t e n i r comp te d e s d i f f i c u l t é s de r e c o u v r e m e n t d e e c o n ­

t r i b u t i o n » , n o u e d é s i r e r i o n s m a i n t e n i r l e s d é p e n s e s

e f f e c t i v e s à e n v i r o n 50 ‘/l d e s c r é d i t s v o t é s peu? l ' A s ­

s e m b lé e .

L 'A s s e m b lé e a y a n t é t é a j o u r n é e à une d a t e

u l t é r i e u r e , Je me p e r m e t s de v o u e dem an d e r a ' 11 vo u s

s e r a i t p o s s i b l e de p r é p a r e r u n r a p p o r t s u p p l é m e n t a i r e

s u r l e d é v e l o p p e m e n t ^ u e , s e l o n v o s p r é v i s i o n s , l ' o e u v r e

d e s r é f u g i é s e a t a p p e l é e & p r e n d r e p e n d a n t l a d u r é e de

l a g u e r r e .

J e v o u s p r i e de c r o i r e , mon c h e r S i r H e r b e r t ,

à l ' e x p r e s s i o n de mee s e n t i m e n t s l e s p l u t e i n c è r e e .

\

r ' ' ■ ‘HAUT COMMISSAIRE

SOUS LA PROTECTION DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES NATIONS

o ». , j g H tr. g g

Rl'UCOM. UOM1UB- W f f —

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Ç UNDER THE PROTECTION iÿF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

2 t September 19th 1939.

Dear Monsieur Avenol,

I wrote to you on the 1st of September,

but as I have not had a reply, and knowing that in these days

the post is uncertain, I am enclosing a copy of my letter.

Since I wrote it it has been decided to carry on with the

Washington Conference, as explained to you in a subsequent

letter. I still do not know the date on which I shall sail

for America, but expect it will be towards the end of this

month or the beginning of the next.

I am carrying on at Northumberland Avenue,

but as practically all my files are at Sevenoaka, I am

definitely opening the office there tomorrow, but propose

to come to London two or three days In the week, and shall

keep part of my staff here.

I am preparing memoranda for the Washington

Conference, and when they are finished I will send you a copy

of them and of the agenda.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Monsieur Joseph Avenol, Secretary-General, League of Nations, Geneva.

September 1st 1939

Dear Monsieur Avenol,

I have not written bo you before because until this

morning there seemed some chance, however small, of war being

avoided. The latest news Indicates that it has begun, or at any

rate cannot be long delayed.

Two days ago I had all my files removed to Sevenoaks,

where I have taken a temporary office, but am still carrying

on from K or thumb e r1and Avenue. I have instructed my representa­

tives to continue their work so far as possible, and to take

measures for the safety of their records. Lord Duneannon has

been called up for military service, and I do not propose to

replace hi; until this is clearly necessary.

I am acting on the assumption that the Assembly will wish

the work to be carried on for the present at any rate, and my

budgetary provisions for the present year are sufficient. It

is of course not possible to foresee how events will develop,

what scope there will be for refugee work during a war, and how

its present character will be changed, restricted or extended.

There are already a number of new problems arising about refugees

in England, and I hope I shall be able to do a good deal by

working in close touch with the Government and private organ!sa­

blons. The same will no doubt be true of other countries.

I should be grateful if you would kindly let me know whether

this general and necessarily Indefinite statement of the position

coincides with your own views. My home address is 2 Knole Paddock,

telle Orchard, Sev .noalts, Kent, and, as no-one can foresee what

may happen, perhaps you would be good enough to send a copy of

your reply bo that address as well as sending the original to

lo Northumberland Avenue.With kind regtir. s,

Yours sincerely,

(sgd) H.E.

L

H aaUT c o m m is s a ir e h ig h c o m m is s io n e r

POUR LES RÉFUGIÉS FOR REFUGEESSOUS LA PROTECTION UNDER THE PROTECTION

E LA SOCIÉTÉ DES NATIONS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

September 20th, 1939.

./ i s/MA1 am writing at once to thank you for your

letter of September 15th, which reached me this

morning. I am glad to have your views regarding

the continuation of the work so far as circumstances

may allow.

2 (a). I will prepare a revised budget and

submit it before I leave for America. The greater

part of my budgetary provision relates to salaries —

officers, staff and representatives — and, apart

from not replacing Lord Duncannon, there is very

little scope indeed for any reduction in staff. I

should be glad to know whether the Secretariat

contemplates any reduction in the emoluments of its

and staff officers^ and if so, on what scale.

(b). There is a possible direction in which the

cost to the League might be reduced. As you know,

when I accepted the Directorship of the Intergovernmental

Committee I did so in an honorary capacity, and I have

Monsieur Joseph Avenol, Secretary - General,

League of Nations, Geneva.

(2)

received nothing at all from the Committee. Personally

I preferred this arrangement, since it gave me a position

of greater independence vis-a-vis the Committee. But

in the altered circumstances there would seem to be no

reason why, if the Intergovernmental Committee continues,

it should not make a contribution to the League, certainly

towards my salary, and possibly towards office

expenses. I cannot of course say whether the Committee

would agree to this, and in particular whether the

Government of the U.S.A. would approve this closer

association with the League. The matter could,

however, be explored during the Washington Conference,

but I would be grateful for your views before taking

Since both the above points are very urgent, I

should be grateful if you can either cable me a reply,

or arrange to send a message by telephone to Mr. Randall

at the Foreign Office, who will pass it on to me.

3. I will certainly submit a supplementary report

on possible developments of the work during the war,

and also an appreciation of how the war seems likely

to modify the problem of refugees who are now under the

protection of the League. It is of course necessary

to realise that, if the League extends its protection

to other categories of refugees, e.g., refugees from

Poland into adjacent neutral countries, it will be

difficult to do anything of value within the scope of

the present budget, and that it will not be possible

to make any reduction.

With kind regards,

M I N U T E S H E g T

tSECRETAIRE GENERAL

Je vous soume t s un pro je t de télégramme en

réponse aux l e t t r e s du Haut COffiffllSSalre pour l e s

R éfug iés dee 14, 19 e t 20 c o u r a n t .

Je ne v o i s aucune o b j e c t i o n au voyage du

Haut Commissaire pour a s s i s t e r à l a Conférence de

Washington, comme i l a v a i t é t é p ré vu d é j à au^ mois

d ' a o û t . Le Haut Commissaire po u r r a <**i'talneme-nt

ê t r e de r e t o u r avan t l a ré u n io n de 1 'Assemblée .

En ce qui concerne l a c o n t r ib u t i o n du Comité

In te rg o u v e m e m e n ta l aux f r a i s de bureau du Haut

Com missai re , je t rouve n a t u r e l que c e t t e q u e s t i o n

s o i t soulevée par l e Haut Commissaire au co u rs de

l a Conférence de Washington. D 'a u t r e p a r t , i l me

semble d é s i r a b l e que le s a l a i r e du Haut Commissaire

s o i t payé e n t i è r e m e n t par l a S o c ié té des N a t i o n s ,

de manière à ce que s a p o s i t i o n p e r s o n n e l l e v i s - à -

v i s du Comité In t e rg o u v e m e m e n ta l demeure indép en-

l e s a u t r e s p o i n t s so u lev é s dans l a l e t t r e

de S i r H e rber t Emerson pourron t f a i r e l ' o b j e t de

ré p o n ses par l e t t r e .

f? .

25 septembre 193J.

DRAFT

; ' ' " ’ I 8Re fucom London- ■

Received your letters fourteenth nineteenth twentieth

instant stop agree your attending conference Washington

stop no objection your raising question Intergovernmental

Committee contributing lump sum towards office

expenses whereas consider your salary should be paid

entirely by League stop question reduction emoluments

being studied - AVENOL

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Certifié officiel :

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Copt. Original in file 20A/=8746/35«8=

'V1'High Commissioner for Refusers under the irotection of the League of Mations

September^27 t h , 1939

Deer MonsiéW? Skylsted,

ter the Secretery-Generel asked

ry Report. I now enclose

rt, which describes the changes

,y the w ar, so far as an

sent be made. You will no

the information of the

In a recent let t

me to make a Supplements r

three copies of the Hep<

in the problem created

appreciation can at pres

doubt submit a copy forj

Secretary General.

2. I will lie sendlnr In the course of the next

aa, or two, for the Information of the Seoretar,-General,

a copy of the agenda for the lashlngton Conference,

and of memoranda I have written for It. As these

have been written In my capacity as Director of the

intergovernmental Committee I assume that they will

not be formally published by the League. My

Supplementary Report contains much of the material

contained in the memoranda for the Conference.

Yours sincerely

Monsieur R.B. Skylstad,League of Nations Secretariat,

Geneva.

rs3>

- >

X

M I N U T E S H E E T

SECRETAIRE "kltt-RAL

J'ai pu avoir aujourd'hui, par l'intermédiaire

du Foreign Office à Londres, une conversation télé­

phonique avec le Haut Commissaire pour les Réfugiés.

Sir Herbert Emerson doit s'embarquer demain matin

pour les Etats-Unis.

J'ai remercié Sir Herbert de son rapport supplé­

mentaire, que nous venions de recevoir (et dont je

Joins une copie), et je lui ai dit que nous attendrions

le retour de Mr. Walters pour publier ce rapport,

étant donné que Mr. Walters m'avait informé par

télégramme qu'il a eu l'occasion d'en1discuter le

■fl^xte avec le Haut Commissaire. Sir Herbert m'a

dit\Qu'il m'autorisait de faire, d'accord avec

•'Mr. Waiters, toute modification au rapport qui pour­

r a i1) être jugée désirable.

J'ai également fait savoir au Haut Commissaire

que nous avions reçu son nouveau projet de budget,

que j'avais soumis à Mr. Jacklin.

J'ai ensuite informé Sir Herbert du résultat de

la mission du Dr. Gautier en Roumanie, en lui donnant

le chiffre officiel des réfugiés civils tant en Rou­

manie qu'en Hongrie. Le Haut Commissaire était très

reconnaissant d'avoir ces chiffres, pour pouvoir les

soumettre à la Conférence de Washington. Nous étions

d'accord pour considérer qu'un problème des réfugiés

ne se posait pas encore dans ces régions, mais qu'il

serait de toute manière utile de discuter à la Confé­

rence de Washington ce que pourrait faire le Comité

Intergouvememental, ou les organisations associées,

en vue de porter secours, en cas de besoin, aux ré­

fugiés polonais.

Discutant le nouveau projet de budget, le Haut

Commissaire a v a i t ment ionné q u ' i l a v a i t e nv isa gé l u

p o s s i b i l i t é de t r a n s f é r e r le s iè g e du Haut Commissa­

r i a t dans un pays n e u t r e . Je l u i a i d i t que nous

av ions examiné l a mime q u e s t io n i c i e t que nous é t i o i s

d ' a v i s que l e s r a i s o n s qu i m i l i t a i e n t en fa veur du

ch o ix d 'u n a u t r e s iè g e que Genève ne s em b la ie n t p lu s

e x i s t e r e t q u 'u n t r a n s f e r t à Genève c o m p o r te ra i t

sans do ute une a s s e z f o r t e économie e t c e r t a i n s

a u t r e s av a n tag es p r a t i q u e s . S i r H e rb e r t a demandé

à r é f l é c h i r enc ore à ce t te q u e s t io n e t e s p é r a i t ê t r e

en mesure de nous donner son a v is à son r e t o u r de

Washington. I l co m p ta i t , de to u t e m an iè re , pouvoir

v e n i r à Genève pour l 'A ssem blée .

f i ,

6 oc to b re 1939.

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