Jews Employed by German Firms to be Safeguarded

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1938, Page 5

Jews Employed by German Firms to be Safeguarded

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

RUGBY,. December 15. ' QUESTIONED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS CONCERNING CASES IN ' WHICH BRITISH EMPLOYEES IN THE SERVICE OF GERMAN FIRMS IN LONDON WERE BEING DISMISSED IN CONSEQUENCE OF INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT NOT TO EMPLOY PERSONS OF JEWISH FAITH AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY, SIR SAMUEL HO ARE, HOME SECRETARY, REPLIED THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT ACCUSATIONS HAD BEEN MADE THAT THE SERVICES OF PERSONS HAD BEEN TERMINATED BY GERMAN FIRMS ON RACIAL GROUNDS, He had no knowledge, however, that instructions had been issued by Germany of the kind suggested. .. .. He could give an assurance that permission would not be given for the importation by any firm of any foreigner to fill a place previously filled by anyone holding the necessary qualifications.

Commander Fletcher (Labour—Nuneaton), the questioner, said: “I have two fully authenticated cases of such dismissals, in one of which a man with 17 years’ service in the firm was discharged and told by the manager that his discharge was on account of his faith only.” Position Being Watched. Sir Samuel Hoare replied that if Commander Fletcher would send him particulars he would look into it. Ho could not allow an immigrant to come into England to take the place of a man discharged in such circumstances.

Replying to the question as to when, in view of the large numbers of unemployed in Britain, he intended to stop the influx of aliens, Sir Samuel said: “The policy of selection and control which has been adopted, is designed to meet the difficulties referred to. Haven for Refugees. “Provided that care is taken in application of this policy, it is possible to admit a number of refugees without aggravating the unemployment problem. For example, women can be admitted to domestic employment. “Again, foreigners admitted to England during the past few years have started new industries which have given employment to a considerable number of British people.” Cheers greeted Mr Duncan Sandys’ (Conservative—Norwood) supplemen-. tary question: Is it not a fact that the entire country is behind the Government in this humanitarian work?