REFUGEES.

Evening Star, Issue 25471, 30 April 1945, Page 3

REFUGEES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l know of many who will endorse the sentiments expressed by " Patriot " in his letter in Friday's .issue. The poet Goldsmith wrote: "Such is

the patriot's boast, where'er-we roam, his first, best country, ever is at home." Our troops, fighting in foreign lands to ipreserve the four freedoms, will agree with the poet. Like " Patriot," I feel sure that German refugees in our Dominion will be awaiting the day when they can return to their Fatherland under Allied control and help' to "remould it nearer to the heart's desire." Our Government saw lit to grant them asylum from the Nazi purge, and at least some have been able to put up brass plates in our cities, and have doubtless done fairly well out of the Social Security scheme. They will probably be financially able to return home and use to good purpose their pxper.ience in a free land. Our returning medicos, dentists, etc., who have presumably, through long years ahroad, lost touch with their former clenteles, will need to rehabilitate themselves, and it is up to us who have remained at home to see that their war service does not detrimentally affect their chances of taking up where they left off ; . We are promised that the Naras will be beaten _to the dust, but the job of re-educating the fanatical young German thugs, fed from birth on blood and iron, not to mention the countless well-fed prisoners in Allied hands, will be the major task confronting the occupying Powers. Here, refugees, with their knowledge of the German tongue and the experience of peaceful years with us, will be able to play a not unimportant part in the remoulding of their Fatherland and : n endeavouring to convince the Herrenvolk, who now protest that they never really wanted to be Nazis, that crime does not pay. Further, as " Patriot " suggests, their less fortunate relatives, who had to remain, will have a claim on their practical sympathy.—l am, etc..

April 30.

Second Patriot. I