European Refugees In Britain

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1948, Page 8

European Refugees In Britain

LONDON, May 1. The problem of European refugees is one of urgency, not only on humanitarian grounds, but also on the grounds of practical economy. The quicker resettlement is effective, the less will be the financial burden of care and maintenance. In other words, the more urgently attention is given to this problem, the sooner the IRO will be enabled to devote money, which would otherwise have been ’ spent on continued care and maintenance, to resettlement of other displaced persons. By the outbreak of the war some 80,000 refugees from Hitler’s regime were in Britain. A further 70,000 civilians arrived during the early years of the war. The number of voluntary workers from abroad now in this country is 55,000. There are 1500 volunteer workers arriving each week and from Europe’s DP camps. The number of former members of the Polish armed forces here is 110,000, with 20,900 dependents. The rest are now settling into new jobs at the rate of 1000 weekly. Asylum has been given also to 300 Spanish Republicans! and their dependents. There are 800 Jewish orphaned children found in Nazi concentration camps. Britain . may therefore be said to have given homes to some 270,000 refugees of various political and racial complexion since the outbreak of war besides 80,000 refugees from Hitler. Of all these, some 200.000 have been admitted and cared for since the end of the war—33,ooo of them during 1947. . . , From these figures, it is clear that Britain can by no one be accused of not taking her fail’ share in this urgent question. It may perhaps be pertinent to that a Bill put before the American Senate Plans to admit 100,000 refugees to the U.S.A, over 1949-1950. A further point to be borne in mind is that since the end of the war Britain, up to the end of March this year, had spent nearly £130,000.000 on foreign nationals who cannot or will not return to their homes. The bulk of this is in respect of Polish resettlement scheme, but.it excludes such items as contributions ■to the previous inter-governmental committee. to UNRRA. etc. Unlike some other nations, and despite her own financial problems, Britain has herself borne the entne cost of resettlement. . One may repeat the Foreign Secretary’s words with justification. Ji all countries in the world, this country has done more than all the others combined..” . , • . . . Britain still has many tens of thousands of German prisoners of war working in her industries.