The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1938. REFUGEE PROBLEM.

Evening Star, Issue 23143, 17 December 1938, Page 16

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1938. REFUGEE PROBLEM.

In the pathetic state in which the refugee question stands to-day it is not strange that scant sympathy was shown with a questioner in the House of Commons who asked when, in view of the large numbers of unemployed, the Government intended to stop the influx of aliens. The unemployed have always to be considered, but, as Sir Samuel Hoare pointed out, there is recent as well as older evidence to show that the right sort of immigrants can be more gain than loss, even to an old and settled country like Britain. It was by refugees from the Netherlands that the great British woollen industry was first developed, and the Huguenots who were expelled from France and settled in England did much for the linen industry. In the same way it has been found that a proportion of recent arrivals have brought with them knowledge which is enabling British firms to produce goods that previously had been imported. How much direct and indirect employment this is giving to British citizens cannot be accurately computed, but it certainly is not negligible. Classes of goods in which developments of this kind have been definitely traced include industrial chemicals, glass, leather goods, gloves, knitwear, and jewellery, for all of which new departments have been built or factories established. Sir Norman Angell has advocated the creation in Great Britain of “ a clearing house for the distribution of refugees throughout the Empire and the world,” Supporting his plea he has said; “ Guo economist after another of late has warned us against the economic difficulties—depression and unemployment—into which both Britain and the dominions are likely to run as the result of diminishing population. In so far tfs

tho admission of refugees corrects that tendency, it will make it easier for us to prevent depression and maintain prosperity and employment. After all, a foreigner who supports his family here buys goods—shoes and clothing and food and fuel—and those things cannot bo produced, any more than the ships and shells we pay for so willingly, without giving employment. Even a refugee camp is a market, and a refugee child is a consumer.” Under stress of Europe’s troubles, Britain is becoming something of a refugee camp. Some 00,000 aliens are estimated to June arrived there since the .Nazi regime was set up in 1933. At present there are nearly 200,000 aliens altogether in' the country, including every trade and profession. Some natives no doubt have been pushed out of work by them. The closest scrutiny of admissions will he necessary to see that that does not happen. One passible aid in the solution of the problem has been pointed out in the existence of some 300,000 acres of land in England awaiting reclamation and improvement. It is suggested that some of this land should be allocated to selected groups of refugees—cultivators, tradesmen, masons, blacksmiths, and so forth—for community settlement. With the help of a loan such communities should, if the case of Italy is a safe guide, bo able to make themselves self-supporting in six to eight years. The 200,000 acres of tho Pontine Marshes near Rome, which were under water in 1930, carry a population of about 60,000 persons to-day. Such a scheme, beside helping the refugees, would stimulate many British industries. Bricks, farming implements, road-making material, and machinery are just a few of the articles which would be required by the new settlers. Unfortunately, as new disruptions take place in Europe, the number of refugees is increased much' faster than steps can be taken to deal with them. Till a few weeks ago Czechoslovakia was a clearing house; now it is exuding its own refugees, whose numbers may soon run into tens of thousands. Small room can be found in Britain, even temporarily, for such a multitude. A cable message which we published yesterday spoke of the unsatisfactory relations which exist today between Germany and Holland. It is to be concluded that those relations have not been improved by the reaction of the Netherlands to the latest systematic pogroms and spoliations, as the result of which, it has been said, “ the economic ruin of the Jews in Germany appears to have been almost completely effected.” Germany’s revival of tho Middle Ages was reported to have caused general indignation and abhorrence in the Netherlands, where an instant response was made to appeals for relief funds, and the decision of tho diamond trade organisation no longer to have its diamonds polished in Germany was only one example of boycotts that were provoked. Yet it is not more than a few thousand refugees that Holland is able to take. The problem is one which tho whole world must share, and the areas now considered most suitable by officials for Jewish settlement were stated yesterday as North-east Rhodesia, Angola, Lower California, Alaska, and British Guinea. All those settlements will take time, however. It is clearing houses that are needed in the first instance, and the cost of such a clearing house as he has proposed for Great Britain has been estimated by Sir Norman Angeil at “ half the cost of ono small cruiser.”