Refugees From Germany Constitute International Problem

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1939, Page 5

Refugees From Germany Constitute International Problem

(Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, July 19. It is estimated that the number of refugees who loft Germany in 1938 was not less than 120,000, and may have been as large as 140,000. It is also estimated that there were in European countries, excluding Germany, not ; fewer than 150,000 refugees who have left Germany, and that approximately 00,000 of these are wholly or partially supported by private organisations. A communique issued after the meeting today of the Inter-Govern-mental Committee for Refugees from Germany, states that the director of the committee, Sir Herbert Emerson, made a comprehensive report on the present position of the refugee problem and the work of the committee. Departure From Evian Principle. Earl Winterton, who presided, informed the committee that in view of the great difficulty found by private organisations in raising the sums needed for the immigration of refugees, to which the director had referred in his report, the British Government had come to the conclusion that it was necessary to depart from the principle, agreed upon at the Evian Conference last year, that any participating Government would give direct financial assistance to refugees. The Government was examining the manner and extent to which private subscribers to the international fund to assist the defraying of the expenses of the overseas immigration of refugees might be encouraged by Government participation. Britain’s Initiative. If other Governments were prepar- i ed to agree to this change of principle, and co-operate in such participation, the British Government would take the initiative in proposing a scheme for the purpose. The American, French, Brazilian and San Dominican representatives recalled that this suggestion constituted a departure from the Evian policy, but undertook to refer the matter to their Governments.

Mr Myron Taylor extended an invitation from President Roosevelt to the chairman, vice-chairman, and director of the committee to meet in conference at the White House, Washington, in the first week in September.