ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 11

ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE DEPARTURE FROM PRINCIPLE RECOMMENDED (BRITISH omCUt, WIBEUSS.) RUGBY, July 19. A communique issued after a meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee for Refugees from Germany states: “The director of the committee, Sir Herbert Emerson, made a comprehensive report on the present position of the refugee problem and the work of the committee. “Earl Winterton, who presided, informed the committee that, in view of the great difficulty found by private organisations in raising the sums needed for the emigration of refugees, to which the director had referred in his report, the British Government had come to the conclusion that it would be necessary to depart from the principle agreed upon at the Evian meeting, that any participating government would give direct financial assistance to refugees and subscribers. .

‘The Government was examining the manner and extent to_ which private subscribers to the international fund to assist in defraying the expenses of overseas emigration of refugees might be encouraged by government participation. If other governments were prepared to agree to this change of principle, and cooperate in such participation, the British Government would take the initiative in proposing a scheme for the purpose. An American Invitation “The American, French, Brazilian, and San Dominican representatives recalled that this suggestion constituted a departure from the Evian policy, but they undertook to refer the matter to their governments.” Before the meeting adjourned until to-morrow, Mr Myron Taylor extended an invitation from Mr Roosevelt to the chairman, vicechairman, and director of the committee to meet in conference at the White House in Washington during the first week in September. An announcement on the lines of that of Earl Winterton’s regarding the departure from the Evian principle was made in the House of Commons to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain). It is estimated that the number of refugees who were left in Germany in 1938 was not fewer than 120,000, and it may have been as large as 140.000. It is also estimated that there are, in European countries, excluding Germany, not refugees who have left Germany, and that about 60,000 of these are wholly or partially supported by private organisations. 1