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Refugae Board
PSF.
Box Box
per
I
PSF: Was Refugee Bd.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
NAMES SUGGESTED FOR CHAIRMAN OF
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
Frank Graham
Aubrey Williams
Tom Finletter
John Burke
Wendell L. Willkie
John Coleman
John Raskob
Frank Grahum
antiney Williams
Iom Finletter
Windell John Burke L. Wilhie
John Rushab-
John Coleman
Head the list
Names suggested
Was Refugu Board
for Charman of
1
PSF:Am Refugee Be. forder
2-xu
GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST It HOUSE
LAWRENCE S.GREENBAUM
285 MADISON AVENUE
EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM
HERBERT A.WOLFF
NEW YORK 17, N.Y.
MORRIS L. ERNST
-
JAN 29 RECEIVED 25
JONAS J. SHAPIRO
SAMUEL J. SCHUR
TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582
ALEXANDER LINDEY
JEROME HANDLER
THEODORE S.JAFFIN
BENJAMIN KAPLAN
LEO ROSEN
January 27, 1944.
HAROLD H. STERN
HARRIET F PILPEL
SYLVESTER BENJAMIN
RAYMOND HERZOG
CASSRELL GREENBERG
MONROE R. LAZERE
JEROME G.GREENE
Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Hyde Park, N.Y.
Tidbits
Dear Covernor:
1. Henry Morgenthau called me today to suggest names for operat-
ing head of the new Refugee Committee. I suggested, among others, the follow-
ing:
Frank Graham - a great guy.
Swing, who knows Europe and has popular support.
Bill Douglas, who might be willing to get off the bench
for this great job.
Leon Henderson, who is very popular once more with the
boys on the Hill, because every big employer whom he attacked
while in the government, has offered him a huge retainer.
Stassen, who would do a good job and whose appointment might
have very swell implications in another direction.
I had long talks with Oliver Stanley and Richard Law in England on
this subject, with some cute angles that you might be interested in.
2. I suggest you get the U.S. Employment Service immediately to
create a Division so as to tie in at once with future employment of the soldier
boys now lying in the hospitals.
3. I suggest that you will get nowhere on your international com-
munications problem unless you appoint a small committee of three, with Jim
Fly as chairman, to take the place of the big "convention" now working through
the State Department, etc., to try to bring in a formula.
Yours,
M.I.E.
THE WHITE HOUSE
file
washington
February 24, 1944.
MEMORANDUM FOR
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF war
This is an order to show cause --
and you are probably out-voted to
start with.
I honestly think that Colonel
William 0'Dwyer can do r elatively
a more important job for the War
Refugee Board at this time than
in any other capacity. I would
want him to be under Stettinius
and go over to Spain at once. I
know no one else who could do
as good a job.
I do not think this need be
called a permanent assignment.
It is my thought that you could
detail him to Stettinius and that
the assignment would not last
more than a few months.
F. D. R.
PSF: war Refugee Bd folder 2-44
GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST WHITE HOUSE
LAWRENCE S.GREENBAUM
285 MADISON AVENUE
EDWARD 3. GREENBAUM
FEB 22 11 48 AM '44
HERBERT A.WOLFF
NEW YORK 17, N.Y.
MORRIS L. ERNST
-
JONAS J. SHAPIRO
RECEIVED
SAMUEL J. SCHUR
TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582
ALEXANDER LINDEY
JEROME HANDLER
THEODORE S.JAFFIN
February 21, 1944.
BENJAMIN KAPLAN
LEO ROSEN
HAROLD H.STERN
HARRIET F. PILPEL
SYLVESTER BENJAMIN
RAYMOND HERZOG
CASSRELL GREENBERG
MONROE R. LAZERE
JEROME G.GREENE
Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Tidbits
My dear Governor:
I have seen John Pehle and Col. Bill O'Dwyer. There is no question
that Bill should be allowed by the Army to do an immediate job for your War
Refugee Board. He ought to be assigned to Stettinius. He can go over inme-
diately with a letter from Spellman to Franco. Pehle is enthusiastic about
him and tells me that Bob Patterson has turned it down cold because he says
that O'Dwyer is irreplaceable. I understand that Lt. Col. John Amen is avail-
able for O'Dwyer's place and that there is also a Lt. Col. Ellison in the
Inspector General's office who is a knockout.
I have looked into the claim that the Army needs O'Dwyer vis-a-vis
the Trumen Committee. It just isn't true and in fact if you send for O'Dwyer
you will learn what a row he had with the Committee.
We cannot think of anybody in the American scene who politically
and socially can do the job vis-a-vis Spain and Catholic South America. Ob-
viously Pehle cannot press any further because he has to deal with the Army,
but if you should desire O'Dwyer to get out of the Army to be assigned to the
State Department, I think it would be giving really great support to Pehle.
Do consider it.
Yours,
I
PSF: was Refugee Bd. folder
0
2-44
THE WHITE HOUSE
washington
March 1, 1944.
MEMORANDUM FOR
MORRIS ERNST:
FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
F.D.R.
war DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
26 February 1944
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
In answer to your order to show cause
concerning Colonel William O'Dwyer, I submit the following:
Bill O'Dwyer, I firmly believe, has
done more than anyone else to prevent fraud and scandal
for the Army Air Forces.
His work consists in detecting cases of
fraud, waste and abuse in production of airplanes and
airplane parts. Due to his work, the Air Forces are
frequently in a position to take corrective action before
any harm is done. If the case is already a bad one, the
Air Forces are enabled to expose it, instead of having it
exposed by Congressional committees or others.
This work is of the utmost importance,
both for production of aircraft and for public morale, and
I deem him the best qualified man in the Army for it.
We have no one with his special skill to replace him, even
temporarily.
In a nation of 135,000,000, why deprive
me of Bill O'Dwyer?
RLSPP
Robert P. Patterson
Under Secretary of War
tranklin D. Roosevelt Library
DECLASSIFIED
DOD DIR. 5200.9 (9/27/58)
Date- 3-19-59
SECRET
Signature- Carl L. Specer
Letter of FDR to Ira Hirschmann, June 8,
1944 published in LOOK magazine, May 9,
1961, page 32.
R L Jacoby
6/21/61
PSF; war Refugee Bd. folder
3075)
Signed original of this letter sent to Dr. Lubin for delivery to
2-44
has
Mr. Hirschmann, 6/9/44.
hms
PSF
June 8, 1944.
My dear Mr. Hirschmann:
John W. Pehle, the Executive Director of the
War Refugee Board, informs me that you are returning
to Turkey to continue your work as the Board's
representative under the able direction of Ambassador
Steinhardt. The great task of mercy which the War
Refugee Board is successfully undertaking is of
paramount importance and I an confident that Ambassador
Steinhardt and you will receive the support of the
governments and individuals whose cooperation we are
seeking in the interest of humanity.
In this you have our Government's full support
and hearty wishes for success. I shall follow the work
with great interest.
Sincerely yours,
FRANKLIN Be ROOSEVELT
Mr. Ira Hirschmann,
Special Representative,
War Refugee Board,
Washington, D. C.
MI. that
aflueg offer
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 8, 1944
MEMORANDUM
TO:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
MR. LUBIN
&
John Pehle tells me that one of his repre-
sentatives, Mr. Ira Hirschmann, is leaving Saturday
night for Ankara where he is to resume his work for
the War Refugee Board. Hirschmann was in Turkey
for several months and, from all reports I can get,
did a remarkable job in getting the cooperation of
the Turkish government in aiding refugees to come
out of the Balkans.
AS you will note from the attached memo-
randum from Pehle, he feels that a letter from you
to Hirschmann would be of great help in carrying
on the work of the Board.
If you deem it advisable to sign the
attached letter, I will see to it that it gets
into Hirschmann's hands before he leaves.
P
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE June 8, 1944
TO
Mr. Lubin
FROM
J.W. Pehle
Attached 1s the proposed letter which we
discussed. It would be very helpful to the
work of the War Refugee Board if Hirschmann
could carry such a letter back with him to
Ankara.
Attachment
PSF: Har Refugu Bd. freder 2-44
LYICTORY
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
file
BUY
UNITED
STATES
WAR
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
BONDS
AND
-
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
OFFICE OF THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
June 22, 1944
MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESIDENT
For your confidential information
I should like to call your attention to some recent develop-
ments with respect to sending food to some of the unfortunate
victims of Nazi terror now in internment camps in enemy Europe.
We have just worked out in personal conversations with
Mr. Dingle M. Foot, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the British
Ministry of Economic Warfare, a program under which the British
and American blockade authorities will permit the shipment from
the Western Hemisphere of 100,000 standard food parcels (550 tons)
a month for three months to be distributed by the International
Red Cross to persons in European internment camps. It is under-
stood that this three months' project 1s only an experiment, and,
if successful, it 18 contemplated that this system of relief will
be extended considerably. Since time 1s of the essence, steps
have been taken to get the initial program under way at once.
In addition to the foregoing, the blockade authorities have
agreed to permit the distribution by the International Red Cross
to persons interned in Southern France of certain foodstuffs still
fit for human consumption salvaged from the cargo of the "S. S.
Christina, now at Cette, France. The food supplies in question
are contained in 315,120 food parcels which were destined origi-
nally for distribution to Belgian and French prisoners of war.
Negotiations with the French, the Belgians and the International
Red Cross have commenced and it 18 hoped that all arrangements
will be completed soon. The War Refugee Board 18 doing every-
thing it can to expedite this relief measure and has indicated
that it will arrange for any financing that may be necessary.
We are very encouraged by these developments and hope they
are only a beginning. At this stage, sustaining the lives of
these unfortunate people may be quite as important as attempting
to rescue them from enemy territory.
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
WASHINGTON
PSF: Was Refugee file Bd. - 2-45
January 27, 1945
My dear Mr. President:
John Pehle, Director of the War Refugee Board,
as you know has also been acting for me as the head of
the Procurement Division in the Treasury due to the
resignation of Mr. Olrich. Mr. Pehle felt that he
was not able to give to the War Refugee board the time
it deserved and, therefore, ne has been urging the
Board to appoint a successor.
The Board offered the Directorship to General
'Dwyer who was very much interested and wanted to take
on the job subject to the approval of the War Department.
Mr. Stimson gave his approval and so did Joe Grew as
well as myself.
Due to the unfortunate publicity in connection
with the resignation of Mr. Pell from the War Crimes
Commission, we felt that it was important to accelerate
the announcement of Pehle's resignation and the appoint-
ment of General Dwyer. Attached hereto you will find
a copy of the release which was given out today to the
newspapers.
We did not bother to radio you about this as
we were confident that this would meet with your hearty
approval.
With kind regards, I remain
Yours sincerely,
The President,
FORVICTORY
Herry Mr In
BUY
The White house.
UNITED
STATES
WAR
BONDS
AND
STAMPS
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
Executive Office of the President
Washington
FOR RELEASE, MORN ING NEWSPAPERS,
Sunday, January 28, 1945.
Release No. 17
The War Refugee Board announced today that John W. Pehle.
has resigned as Executive Director of the Board. The Board
made public Mr. Pehle's letter of resignation and the Board's
acceptance (copies attached).
Mr. Pehle was designated Acting Executive Director of
the Board shortly after its creation on January 22, 1944.
Leter, on March 24, 1944, the Board, with the approval of the
President, designated him permanent Executive Director.
As explained in the letter of resignation, Mr. Pehle
resigned because of the increasing burden of new duties which
have been assigned to him as Assistant to the Secretary of
the Treasury.
At the same time the Board announced the selection of
Brigadier-General William O'Dwyer as the new Executive Director.
General O'Dwyer is being returned to inactive status by the
War Department to handle this assignment. General O'Dwyer is
District Attorney for Kings County, New York, on leave, and
recently returned to the United States from Italy where he
served as Vice President of the Economic Section of the Allied
Control Commission for Italy, with the personal rank of
Minister,
January 27, 1945
MEMORANDUM TO THE WAR REFUGEE BOARD
I hereby submit to you my resignation as
Executive Director of the War Refugee Board effective
immediately. As Assistant to the Secretary of the
Treasury there has recently been assigned to me the
supervision of the operations of the Treasury Procurement
Division, which includes. the difficult task of disposing
of the surplus consumer goods turned over to the Treasury
Department by the Army and the Navy. In view of the in-
creasingly heavy burdens imposed on me by this new assign-
ment, I have found it necessary to resign as Executive
Director.
It has given me deep personal satisfaction to have
been a part of the vital work undertaken by this Government
to save and protect the innocent victims of Nazi persecu-
tion. While many lives have been saved as the result of
our efforts, we have not, of course, met with complete
success. However, I am proud of our achievements in the
face of the difficulties encountered.
I have been reluctant to take this action and leave
the Board because of the important work which remains to
be done. I no longer have this reluctance, however, in
view of Brigadier-General William O'Dwyer's willingness
to assume the responsibilities of Executive Director.
(Signed) J. W. Pehle
Executive Director
January 27, 1945
MEMORANDUM TO JOHN W. PEHLE
We have received your letter of resignation dated
January 27, 1945.
In view of your request and the pressure of your
other duties, your resignation is hereby accepted. The
Board appreciates the services you have rendered and
your devotion to the great and important task assi gned
to this Board by the President.
(s) Joseph C. Grew
Acting Secretary of State
(s) H. Morgenthau, Jr.
Secretary of the Treasury
(s) Henry L. Stimson
Secretary of War
MEMORANDUM TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM O'DWYER
You are hereby appointed Executive Director of the
War Refugee Board effective immediately.
We are sure we can rely on you to carry on the
important task assigned to this Board by the President,
(s) Joseph C. Grew
Acting Secretary of State
(s) H. Morgenthau, Jr.
Secretary of the Treasury
(s) Henry L. Stimson
Secretary of War
o00
I
PSF; Nan Refugee Bd freser 2.45
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
Bxlau
WASHINGTON
file
March 24, 1945
My dear Mr. President:
I am sending you herewith a most interesting
cable from Mr. McClelland, representative of
the War Refugee Board in Switzerland; also a
one-page digest of this cable. Mr. Burckhardt,
who is mentioned in this cable, is president
of the International Red Cross.
Sincerely yours,
The President,
The White House.
FORVICTORY
BUY
UNITED
STATES
WAR
BONDS
AND
STAMPS
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 24, 1945
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Miss Hodel
For your information
The attached cable has just been received from
Mr. McClelland reporting on Burckhardt's visit with
the German authorities.
The main points in the Burckhardt report are as
follows:
1. International Red Cross delegates will be
permitted to be stationed in major camps
for Schutzhaeftlinge (political deportees)
and prisoners of war to supervise relief
distributions;
2. The Germans are willing to allow deliveries
of relief by truck to political deportees
irrespective of nationality or race;
3. The Germans have agreed in principle to
allow evacuation of women, children, elderly
and ill people irrespective of religion or
race;
4. International Red Cross is planning to
utilize returning prisoner of war relief
trucks for evacuations.
McClelland suggests that the War Refugee Board's
most effective contribution to this double program of
relief and evacuation will be (a) obtaining trucks and
tires, and (b) organizing the evacuation from Switzer-
land of those refugees who are non-repatriable in Europe.
THodel
0
PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED
P
Y
FROM:
American Legation, Bern,
TO:
Secretary of State, Washington
DATED:
March 22, 1945
NUMBER: 1727
CONF IDENT IAL
us URGENT
McClelland sends the following for O'Dwyer, WRB, and the
Department.
I refer herewith to the Legation's telegrams of March 8
and March 21, Nos. 1481 and 1687 respectively.
It has unfortunately not been possible for me to report
sooner on results of recent discussions with German authorities
by ICRC President Burckhardt, because of illness.
Burckhardt first met with Kaltenbrunner of SS on March 12
in the Vorarlberg region between Swiss border and Innsbruck. A
personal letter was sent by Himmler stating that he was prevented
by military duties from being present and delegating to Kalten-
brunner full power.
On March 13 conversations were continued in Kreuzlingen,
Switzerland, with Kaltenbrunner plus Berber, Director of Foreign
Political Institute of Foreign Ministry, and Windecke of German
FD, and on March 14 with Berber alone in Zurich. For some
months now Berber has been in Switzerland and appears to he one
of Ribbentrop's special contact men.
The main concession obtained from SS, as Burckhardt explained
the matters, is permission for delegates of ICRC to be
stationed in all major camps for both "Schutzhaeftlinge" (SH)
and POWS to supervise personally distributions of relief. ss
laid down one condition which was that such representatives of
ICRC not circulate particularly back and forth to Switzerland
but that they remain in these camps until the end of the war.
Since certain numbers of SH are being worked in War Industries,
this restriction is presumably on the grounds of military
security.
On the 21st of March, Burckhardt of ICRC reported to me
that the choice of appropriate delegates for these camp posts
DECLASSIFIED
State Dept. Letter, 1-11-72
By R. H. Parks Date JUN 2 1972
- 2 -
was being actively pursued by the committee, and they will be
despatched as rapidly as possible into Germany.
There is willingness on the part of VG to allow deliveries
of relief of all types by truck or other means of transport to
SH irrespective of nationality or race. It was requested by
SS that any such relief distribution should be conducted dis-
creetly, especially any relief given to marching columns along
the roads, in view of difficulties of food supply situation
for the Germans themselves.
With respect to evacuation of SH, final detailed authori-
zation covering specific persons whom ICRC will be permitted
to evacuate has not been obtained from Berlin as yet, although
the SS agreed in principle to allow the exit of women, children,
elderly and 111 people irrespective of religion or race. An
answer is expected by ICRC by the 26th or 27th of March.
It was suggested by Burckhardt of ICRC that, in view of
danger of approaching front, inmates of women's concentration
camp of Ravensbrueck be among the first evacuated. This
camp is located on the main highway to Neustrelitz approximately
70 kilometers north of Berlin and contains at least 30,000
women of principally Hungarian (Jewish), Polish, Norwegian,
Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Russian and other nationalities,
and it is definitely one of the bad camps.
It was stated by the Germans that transportation for any
such evacuations would not be supplied by them. Consequently,
it is planned by ICRC to utilize returning POW relief trucks,
although this will be a difficult and inadequate method of
effecting evacuation, especially persons who are ill.
The use by ICRC for evacuees of parcel ships returning
from Luebeck to Goteborg was not favored by the Germans who
stated that these waters were thickly mined and that they did
not wish to be held responsible for sinking any ships loaded
with evacuees.
The possibility of sending sanitary blocked train to
Ravensbrueck from Switzerland if and when final authorization
for the evacuation of this camp is given by the Germans, is
still being discussed with the Swiss authorities by ICRC,
although the Swiss are both reluctant to release such trans-
port equipment and doubt that train could get through under
the present chaotic state of German railroads which are being
constantly bombed.
20 letier 20
STATE =
92 Davide
AUG 06708
- 3 -
With respect to the question of evacuation of SH in
general an attempt was made by Kaltenbrunner to create the
impression that SS had really been only an executive organ
throughout the past years of mass arrests and deportation of
civilians to Germany from occupied countries and SS would be
willing to allow useless SH to leave Germany now that food
and housing situation was growing difficult within Germany.
It appears that Burckhardt of ICRC is working on some
special scheme for evacuation of French SH who are to be
exchanged for German civilians held by the French (I understand
mainly Baltic Germans taken in Alsace region by the French).
It is reported that French authorities are prepared to furnish
100 trucks to carry out this plan.
As soon as information regarding identity of first groups
of SH whose evacuation will De permitted by the Germans is
obtained from ICRC, I will report to WRB promptly.
In summing up, War Refugee Board can contribute to this
double relief and evacuation program most effectively by (1)
obtaining as many tires and trucks as possible, and (2) organiz-
ing and placing into operation mechanism for evacuating from
Switzerland such SH groups who may arrive here and who are non-
repatriable in Europe for the time being.
HARRISON
DC/L: IDB:AN
3-23-45
March 29, 1945 file
Not necessary to send in pouch.
B+
194
PSF: Was Refug
Dr. 2.4
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 29, 1945
PSF
MEMORANDUM FOR: Miss Grace Tully
Early in the week General O'Dwyer
passed on to me through Dave Niles this memo-
randum with regard to the work of the War
Refugee Board. It did not seem to me that in
the midst of the midst of discussions about
food and the postwar treatment of Germany, we
should try to get out any Presidential state-
ment about the Board's work. When I talked
with General O'Dwyer he agreed, but he wanted
this material passed on to the President.
ED
Jonathan Daniels
March 27, 1945
TO;
Jonathan Daniels
The White House
This is the memorandum to
the President, together with the
covering memorandum to David Niles,
which I discussed with you on the
phone.
William now 'Dwyer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
be Board
15
PORVICTORY
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
BUY
STATES
WAR
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
March 27, 1945
OFFICE OF THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
IORANDUM
TO:
David Niles
FROM: William 0'Dwyer
The following is some background material which may
be of assistance in the preparation of a release on the
attached memorandum to the President:
"President Roosevelt established the War Refugee Board
by Executive Order on January 22, 1944, Its members are
the Secretaries of State, Treasury and War. The Board's
functions are 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.
"In carrying out the President's directive, the War
Refugee Board has concentrated its efforts on getting food
to these innocent victims and on rescuing as many as pos-
sible from enemy territory to safe havens. In addition, the
Board has developed other protective measures to safeguard
the lives of many of these people.
"The work of the War Refugee Board has constantly been
faced with extraordinary difficulties, since its operations
are designed for people suffering behind the enemy lines.
In spite of the many obstacles, the Board is able to announce
substantial success in its operations. Thousands have
actually been rescued from enemy territory, in addition to
the many more thousands whose lives have been preserved while
still in enemy-controlled territory."
VICTORY
BUY
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
UNITED
STATES
WAR
SONDS
WAR REFUGEE BOARD
AND
STAMPS
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
OFFICE OF THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MAR 27 1945
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
On February 20, 1945, the War Refugee Board approved
a specific program to (1) bring relief to civilian detainees
in Germany in imminent danger of death due to starvation,
exposure and deliberate neglect and (2) to remove as many
as possible of these people to safety. The exposure and
danger to these people increased as a result of conditions
inside Germany. The Board has pushed ahead on this program
and important results have been obtained in the last few
days.
The War Refugee Board, as you know, has shipped several
hundred thousand three-kilo parcels from this country to
stockpiles in Sweden and Switzerland for delivery by the
International Red Cross to civilian detainees, regardless
of race, religion or nationality, in German concentration
camps. Our best information indicates that the largest
concentrations of these people are now in the north of Ger-
many around Hamburg and in the south of Germany near Dachau.
There are millions of civilian detainees still under German
control and a relatively small number (about 200,000 or 300,000)
are Jews.
In recent months, because of disrupted transportation
conditions inside Germany, no deliveries of War Refugee Board
food parcels have been made.
Recently, as the result of arrangements made between
the Board and the International Red Cross, War Refugee Board
food packages will go forward on trucks obtained by the
Board. These packages are destined for the sick, the dis-
abled, women and children, who, because of their unimportance
to the enemy's war program, are in the greatest danger from
starvation and exposure.
- 2 -
Our latest cables from the field report the following
developments:
1. The bottleneck on the delivery of War Refugee
Board food packages has been broken. Within the
last few days, 20,400 parcels have left Goteburg,
Sweden, and 6,090 have left Switzerland for enemy
territory.
2. The Board's representative in Bern has rented from
a private concern in Switzerland six 12 ton trucks
which will be available within the next few days.
The Y.M.C.A. has agreed to turn over 12 wood-burning
trucks now in Germany to the International Red Cross
for relief delivery work.
3. With the approval of the Secretary of War, arrange-
ments are now under way with General Eisenhower for
the acquisition by the Board of gasoline, tires and
trucks to be turned over to the International Red
Cross for War Refugee Board operations.
4. Arrangements are being made by the International
Red Cross to station personnel in the concentration
camps to supervise the distribution of relief par-
cels.
In addition to the War Refugee Board parcels already in
Switzerland and Sweden, the Board is completing arrangements
for the procurement of an additional 300,000 packages for
early shipment abroad.
It is to be understood that the War Refugee Board feed-
ing program is independent of the delivery of prisoner of
war food packages, but it is planned that all trucks operated
by the International Red Cross for the delivery of relief in
German territory will be utilized to evacuate physically un-
fit civilian detainees to safety.
UNRRA has agreed to furnish to the International Red
Cross, at the request of the War Refugee Board, relief supplies
for the maintenance of refugees removed to safety and who are
in transit to UNRRA-controlled camps.
William O'Dwyer
Executive Director