SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 October 1939, Page 8

SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES

GIGANTIC PLAN DISCUSSED [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. Oct. 20, 10.30 a.m.). NEW YORK, October 19. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent states that Mr. Roosevelt indicates that he is giving m-creasingly-serious consideration to a certain vast and most-appealing plan for the resettlement of millions of refugees. It is the British Empire, through its wide possessions in Africa, which has been centre of a gigantic scheme that has been discussed with Mr. Roosevelt, but to send millions of homeless people to these lands cannot be sensibly considered, until an engineering survey has been made. Taken alone, this survey is the largest enterprise ever suggested by mankind. The Panama Canal, beside it, is a small blueprint, and the map-; ping of America a routine task. One name invariably suggested as being competent to undertake this colossal labour is that of Mr. Herbert Hoover. Beyond his prestige, technical skill, and caution, is his solitary eminence as a humanitarian organiser of relief. None other has his experience or aptitude for this surpassing task. ALASKA SUGGESTED. (Received October 20. 2.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 1.9. Senator Ickes indicated that Alaska will be suggested to the Refugee Committee. He expressed the opinion that the resources of Alaska are sufficient to solve the refugee problem to a considerable extent, and added that Alaskans would welcome refugees with sufficient financial backing to warrant resettlement, ranging _ from agriculture, requiring a large initial .investment, to business ventures m the cities and towns, requiring relatively small investments. “It has been said for years that we should save Alaska for our own people, but this is a dog-in-the-manger attitude,” he continued. “Our own people Won’t have anything to do with it, and at present there are only 30,000 whites in the entire territory.”