The Nazis are not discriminating against American prisoners of wars who happen to be Jews, Secretary of State Cordell Hull, has made clear in a letter to Rep. Emmanuel Celler of New York.
“The Department is exercising special vigilance,” Secretary Hull wrote, “to prevent discrimination by the German authorities against American prisoners of war open a racial or religious basis, and is happy to report that it has so far obtained evidence of the existence of such discrimination.”
The letter, inserted in yesterday’s Congressional Record, was an answer to one from Rep. Celler which suggested that the Allies seek favored prisoner of war status for European civilian Jews in Nazi hands. Secretary Hull indicated his agreement that something should be done, but did not say when he would be ready to seek action.
“The barbarous treatment accorded by the German authorities,” he told the Congressman,” to certain categories of civilians under their control, indicates the desirability of some international instrument similar to the Geneva Convention (on war prisoners) to set forth the duties of belligerents in respect of all victims of and oppression and to provide appropriate neutral and international machinery for their protection and relief.
“This and other proposals looking toward the revision of existing international agreements to meet needs brought to light by the present war, are being coordinated in the Department with a view to their presentation for discussion and consideration at an appropriate time.”
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