Spared lives

23 Oct. 1944

Confidential telegram nº 286 from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in Berlin conveying instructions that legal arguments should not be used in representations to the German government to ensure that Portuguese passports granted to the Jews in Hungary should be respected: “persecution Semite elements Hungary has obeyed political purposes and hatred that only concern for subsequent reaction may possibly alter slightly. This is what appears to have happened perhaps following protests by neutrals and forceful note written by Apostolic Nuncio and representatives neutral powers… Our aim to lessen as we cannot prevent consequences persecution regarding all those chose Portuguese shelter. The desire that this be expressed to occupying power is all the greater as our Charge d’affaires Budapest has been recalled to Lisbon to inform situation in that country where from here it looks as if any government with constitutional or even national characteristics seems to have disappeared”.

(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams to Berlin)