The Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1938 IS IT AN INSOLUBLE PROBLEM ?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 November 1938, Page 8

The Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1938 IS IT AN INSOLUBLE PROBLEM ?

(WHEN the House of Commons ; was discussing the question of! Jewish refugees from Germany, j Mr Noel Baker (Labour Member) moved that a concerted effort be made by the nations, including the ** I United States, “to secure a com- ♦| j mon policy regarding (Jewish) | refugees.” This the Government H j supported. Mr Baker then went H on to suggest “that the nations j ( ** should protest to Berlin’ in refer- , || ence to the treatment meted out . It to the Jews, and he expressed the « tt opinion that cordial relations were 1 It impossible between Britain and 1 | | Germany while the martyrdom j of Jews, Socialists, Protestants, t and Catholics continues, and con- | eluded by urging the limitation of .j the admission of Germans to Eng- t H land, the taxation of German U products, and control of German assets in England. Apparently the ; || House was in sympathy with the sentiments expressed by Mr fj Baker, and though the Govern- ( H ment did not associate itself with all he said, it evidently endorsed c It his opinions. The fact is that there ( II is a serious difference between ( 8 London and Beilin as regards r ♦I the German Government s treatH ment of the Jews. In any case c tj that treatment has been in many 1

instances inconsiderate and cruel, i ; not inhuman, and there are in London many Jews, who, contrasting the fair treatment dealt out to them with the harsh treatment meted out to the members of their nation in Germany, are not slow to resent that country’s , anti-Jewish policy. But there are; limits to what the British Govern- i ment can do in the matter. If it I were to say that it will find new j homes in its many colonies for an unlimited number of Jews driven from Germany, possibly the result would be the enhanced persecution of Jews in that country, and their increased suffering. Already an important German journal has asked why the huge British Empire “can accept only a small number of German Jews.” There are at least two good reasons: ( I ) Because a large influx of Jews into England is undesirable, since there are enough Jews there already, and (2) Because it would be difficult to distribute them from there to the colonies, since the Jews’ idea is to be attached to large centres of population, such as London and the big English cities, where they could form themselves into communities, and preserve their Jewish manner of life, customs, and traditions. It may be asked why they should not go further afield to the United States, for instance —and the reply is that the Nazis have already relieved them of a considerable portion of the money they possessed, and it is difficult, if not impossible, for many of them to flee very far when once they have crossed the German border. As will have been seen, the British Government has said that it is able and willing to deal with large numbers of Jewish refugee children, “provided they are sponsored by responsible bodies,” but “the possibilities of accepting a large number of (Jewish) refugees for permanent residence are limited.” However, that is a beginning, and if once the English people begin a great work of amelioration they can be trusted to carry it through successfully. British reactions to Germany’s ill-treatment of the Jews have been so marked that there are reports in London that the German Ambassador, Dr. von Dircksen, may be recalled. The British Premier has announced that a meeting of British and German delegates to discuss appeasement “is not contemplated in the near future,” and viewed from all points the effects of the Germans’ anti-Jewish policy are deplorable. To-day it is reported that the German Minister of Propaganda has “initiated a new anti-Jew campaign” and in doing so issued a warning that “the German nation will not stand interference any longer!”