REFUGEE PROBLEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 76, 11 January 1936, Page 5

REFUGEE PROBLEM.

HUNDRED® OF THOUSANDS.

THE QUESTION OF RELIEF. (United Press Association—Copyright.) GENiEVA, January 9. A Committee of International Assistance recommends that the League of Nations Council should appoint an outstanding personality to supervise the winding up of the work of the Nansen Office dealing with international refugees, and another to ensure continuity of the work of Mr James MacDonald (formerly High Commissioner) dealing with German refugees. The names of Lord Cecil and Sir Austen Chamberlain are being mentioned.

Therepoit states that the Nansen Office has dealt with 1,000,000' refugees of whom 200,000 are still homeless. Mr MacDonald dealt with 80,000, of whom 15,000 are unplaced. The cases included many of terrible degradation and there were many suicides. Intellectuals are especially distressed, owing to the over-crowding of the professions and the difficulty of obtaining degrees and diplomas. The committee recommends that after the Nansen Office has been liquidated, its work should pass either to States or private associations. An international conference should be summoned to establish a legal system for the protection of German refugees, the care of whom should be entrusted to a committee consisting of Government representatives, with Jewish and nonJewish groups in an advisory capacity. A minority report of one, known to be an Italian, would place the whole responsibility in private hands.