033.5511 Van Zeeland, Paul/46

The Ambassador in Venezuela (Corrigan) to the Secretary of State

No. 205

Sir: I have the honor to report that, having noted several references in the local press to a proposed visit to Venezuela on the part of former Premier Van Zeeland of Belgium, I felt it might be of interest to inquire of the Minister for Foreign Affairs38 and the Belgian Minister39 concerning this matter.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me that his Government had not been officially advised of this visit by the Belgian Government although it had received a cable from one of its officers in Europe stating that Mr. Van Zeeland was coming to investigate the possibilities for settling European refugees in Venezuela. Dr. Gil Borges added that while ex-Premier Van Zeeland would be received with every courtesy and his visit made pleasant, there was no possibility [Page 211] of success for his mission. He said that the experience with Jewish refugees had not been satisfactory, that many of them had been admitted on sufferance and with the promise on their part that they would work on farms or would engage in similar occupations. This promise had not been kept and virtually all of them were now in Caracas or other large centers of population. He again stated Venezuela’s oft-repeated immigration policy to the effect that it was seeking immigrants of the farming or artisan class rather than those who would engage in commerce in the cities. “Venezuela,” he concluded, “is not anti-Semitic and is willing to establish a small quota of Jewish immigration but it must control the type of immigration which is needed by this country.”

The Belgian Minister informed me that he had no official instructions or even information concerning the visit of ex-Premier Van Zeeland. He stated that he understood he was coming as a member of the Evian Committee on Political Refugees but that his work would be solely in connection with this Committee and that he had no official mission as far as the Belgian Government was concerned. The Belgian Minister appeared reticent to comment on Mr. Van Zeeland and I received the impression that possibly his activities were not particularly sponsored by his own Government.

Due to the burning of the Italian liner Orazio on which ex-Premier Van Zeeland was to have sailed, his trip perforce was postponed and it is not known as yet when it will take place.

The proposed visit has awakened considerable interest in the press and half a dozen editorials have appeared which are surprisingly bitter and in some cases quite unreasonable in tone. The general tenor of the comment gives the same view as that expressed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs only in a much less moderate manner. It is a curious fact that while the crying need for immigration to Venezuela is realized and elaborate laws and regulations have been prepared to that effect so far very little real inducement has been offered to attract immigrants.

Respectfully yours,

Frank P. Corrigan
  1. E. G. Borges.
  2. Fernand Gobert.