ABSORBING REFUGEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 20 October 1938, Page 11

ABSORBING REFUGEES

WHERE DOMINIONS STAND. APPLICATIONS FROM SUDETENS. NO LARGE-SCALE SCHEMES. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph-^Copyright.) Received October 20, 9.50 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 19. The Australian Associated Press has been authorised by a high official quarter to state that no plan for large-scale absorption by the Dominions of the Sudeten political refugees lias either been drawn up or is under consideration. The most that can be expected is that special consideration will be given individuals conforming to the existing requirements.

Despite the sympathetic statements by Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage (Prime Minister of New Zealand) and others it is known that no Dominion is prepared to relax its regulations. Mr W. J. Jordan (New Zealand High Commissioner) has denied the Daily Herald’s interview. He said: “1 told their representative that, while New Zealand would continue to consider individual applications, it was impossible to undertake a large-scale scheme or promise to find employment.” New Zealand House and Australia House are both receiving applications from Central Europeans at the rate of 50 daily. They refuse to release information regarding the numbers accepted, but there is reason for believing that they have recently risen above normal. Many of the applicants are professionals, and others are with means.

The Daily Herald quoted Mr Jordan as saying that “New Zealand is prepared to admit as many Czech refugees as possible to the limit of our requirements.”

HITLER AT LINZ.

INSPECTION NEAR BORDER.

Received October 20, 1.5 p.m

VIENNA, Oct. 19. Herr Hitler has arrived at Linz. It is Understood he will visit the Sudeten area bordering Austria to-morrow.

FOR SOUTH AFRICA

SKILLED CRAFTSMEN

Received October 20, 1.10 p.m

PRAGUE, Oct. 19. South Africa is anxious to transplant certain Sudeten industries to Africa and is sending agents to secure Czech skilled craftsmen in these industries. She is willing to provide the necessary capital. Czech life is returning to normal, increased withdrawals from the banks being allowed. Britain agreed first to accept 250 Sudeten refugees, France 200, and Scandinavia 100, with reference to those threatened with ’ execution or long sentences in Germany.

PROBLEM OF DISPOSAL.

Received October 20, 12.20 p.m

RUGBY, Oct. 19. Statements have been in circulation that Germany has demanded in Prague the return to the jurisdiction of. Germany of the escaping Sudeten German refugees, and also that Czechoslovakia independently has been compelling German refugees from Sudetenland to turn back across the new frontier. A formal denial by the Government concerned of the truth of each of these statements has been communicated to Britain. Representations regarding the refugees in Czechslovakia have been made to the British Government by a number of interested bodies and persons in recent weeks. To-day a deputation under the auspices of the National Council for Civil Liberties, including Miss Eleanor Rathbone, M.P., Sir Norman Angel, Sir Jolin Hope Simpson and Air H. G. Wells, was received by Lord Halifax (Foreign Secretary). ‘With Miss Rathbone and Sir John Hope Simpson as spokesmen, the deputation pressed upon Lord Halifax the. imperative need that the British apd Dominion Governments should make immediate arrangements for removing large numbers of refugees from Czechoslovakia with an adequate financial provision for large-scale schemes of settlement. Lord Halifax said that Britain was doing everything in her power to deal with°this difficult problem and he promised that the views of the deputation would receive his careful consideration. It' is known that the matter has already been under discussion between the British Government and the Dominions, and, as far as Britain is concerned, it is understood she will bo prepared, in the case of those refugees who are stated to he in particular danger, to facilitate the entry of a limited number into Britain provided suitable arrangements can be made for their reception and support. MAPPING NEW FRONTIER. AIR PHOTOGRAPHY METHOD. CZECH-GERMAN BORDER. LONDON, Oct. 19. By means of air photography the new Czech-German frontier will be mapped in nine days instead of six weeks, which local commissions would have taken. An agreement reached between the Czech and German Governments provides for the employment of German ’planes and staff, as the Czechs lack the necessary equipment. Accordingly six military and four civil aircraft will participate in a vast aerial survey. The Czech Government will receive a print of each photograph taken, the final delirhitation of tire frontier to be based on the survey. LABOUR'S INTEREST. QUESTION OF REFUGEES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 18. Air David Grenfell, M.P., on behalf of the jPurliamentary Labour Party, visited! Hie Foreign Office to-day in connection with the question of re

fugees in Czechoslovakia. He will return to Prague to-morrow. REFUGEE SETTLERS. BRITISH INTENTIONS. LONDON, Oct. 19. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph understands that the Government is prepared to allow 300 Czech refugees from Sudetenland to settle in England. It is believed that Canada has also intimated that she is prepared to take a portion of the refugees, provided they are adequately financed, for establishment as farmers. THE CZECH MOTTO. “WORK AND SAVE.” ' FRAGUE, Oct. 19. “Work and save” will be the Government’s motto, declared Dr. Kulfus (Alinister of Finance) in a broadcast. He added that the Czech’s future economic policy would be based on four points—stable currency, ordered finance, financial agreements with their neighbours and moderate taxation. It is estimated that Czechoslovakia has lost 40 per cent, of her revenue by the loss of Sudetenland. RELIEF FUND. TOTAL EXCEEDS £130,000. (British Official Wireless.) Received October 20, 9.50 a.m. RUGBY, Oct. 19. The Czech relief fund now exceeds £130,000.