EUROPEAN REFUGEES

Grey River Argus, 23 October 1939, Page 10

EUROPEAN REFUGEES

RESETTLEMENT PROPOSALS.

WASHINGTON, October 19

Senatoi' Ickes indicated that Alaska vill 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, ana added that Alaskans would welcome refugees with sufficient financial backing to warrant resettlement, ranging from agriculture, requiring a large initial investment, to business ventures in 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-mang-er attitude,” he continued. “Our own people won’t have anything to do with it, and at present there are onl> 30,000 whites in the entire tenitory.”

The "New York Times” Washington correspondent states that Mr. Roosevelt indicates that he is giving increasingly-sericus 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 the 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 mapping 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.

HEDJAZ PILGRIMAGES.

RUGBY, October 19.

Some misunderstanging has been caused by the announcement made in India, on October 11, of the post-

ponement, until further notice, of sailings from Indian ports to Jedcla, in connection with the Hedjaz pilgrimage. This announcement was one of the regrettable but inevitable consequences of the outbreak of the war. It was issued as a precautionary mea-

■ sure only, certa : n sailings being cani celled, and tho<=e only for a tempor- ■ ary period. , B.th the British and Indian Governments are alive to the great importance of providing adequate facil- 1 ities for the safe transport of Mos-'

lems wish ng to undertake the pil->» grimage. Every effort, accordingly, was made to secure a resumption of sailings, and arrangements have no\v been made for the reservation of a certain number of ships for pilgrims . from Indian ports to the Hedjaz.