Training Jewish Children

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 309, 30 December 1938, Page 7

Training Jewish Children

Britain Making Tradesmen Out of Refugees

50,000 REPORTED IN NEED LONDON, Dec. 8. The first 200 Jewish children, refugees from Germany, arrived in England last week. Some of them were orphans, others had left their parents in concentration camps. They came from either the Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig or Breslau areas, and are from middle-class homes. They were brought over under the charge of an English woman, Mrs. Nankivell, and Mrs. De Bussy, from Holland, and with them wore eight school teachers, who returned to Germany. Three hundred more children are to be brought over this week. They will all be given British nationality and trained in trades and callings which will fit them best for work in the Empire as artisans, plumbers, builders, farmers, domestics and cooks. It is hoped to bring 5000 children to England. It is stated that 50,000 are in need. The British Committee for the Care of Children from Germany, of which Lord Samuel is chalrmah, ia taking charge of the children for the present. Those who arrived last week, after passing a medical examination, were taken to Dovercourt Bay holiday camp. There are four Gorman refugee doctors and nurses to look after their health. They will have classes and physical culture every day. 4 wealthy Jew has sent down a complete change of clothing for every child, so that they will not be badly clothed or feel the cold. Pitiful Plight of Young People

The youngest of the latest batch of children was a girl of five; the eldest was 17. Most of them were between the ages of 9 and 12. They looked pale and tired when they came ashore, after a day’s train journey followed by a rough crossing. The steamer arrived so early that many were asleep when she berthed, and they had to be roused and told to dress quickly. Eaeh had one mark —about Is Bd—all the money that they were allowed to take out of Germany. Jewellery and other valuables were taken from them before they crossed the frontier, and they carried only one suitcase of clothes and dolls or toys.

A boy of 10 carried with care a violin case. His family are musicians. “I am going to practise all the time,” he said. ‘‘One day I hope to be a great musician. ’'

Among the children were a number from an orphanage in Berlin which was set on fire during anti-Jewish riots. While tfie ordinary passengers disembarked from the boat the children were given hot milk and biscuits. Then immigration officials and members of the British Committee for the Care of Children from Germany went through the task of getting each child into the country. Tied to each child’s lapel was a label bearing his or her name. In the saloon of the steamer each child was called by name, and, after they had been checked, they were free to land, after a brief medical examination. International Assistance At a meeting of the Evian sub-com-mitteo in London, Mr. G. Rublee, the American director, reported on tho progress which could so far be recorded toward making arrangements for providing a refuge for Jewish refugees from Germany.

It is understood that the meeting, after reviewing the various offers which had been made by different countries, remained of opinion that British Guiana and Tanganyika still remained the most likely territories in which to establish Jewish settlements.

It was pointed out that the United States had already granted temporary visas in a largo number of cases and some disappointment was expressed that other countries had not followed suit. It was concluded that each country should arrange in its own way how it could provide temporary Tcfuge, and this applied particularly in respect of those countries which border on Ger-

For the first time since tho Evian Conference#it appeared that Argentina and Brazil might be prepared to take a certain number of refugees if adequate financial arrangements could be made. The importance of securing some concession concerning finance from Germany was strongly emphasised but, although the Ambassadors of Britain, France and tho United States have made representations to the Berlin Government on this subject, no progress can be reported. Germany is adamant that the full £83,000,000 fine imposed on the Jews must be paid before there can be any question of permitting them to take money out ot the country.