BRITISH GUIANA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23806, 12 May 1939, Page 9

BRITISH GUIANA

PROSPECTS FOR REFUGEES SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL COMMISSION’S REPORT <British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, May 10. (Received May 11, at 6.30 p.m.) The report submitted by the British Guiana Refugee Commission to President Roosevelt’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees on the possibilities of large-scale settlement of refugees from Central Europe is issued as a White Paper. The commission is of opinion that, while the territory offered for settlement in British Guiana is not an ideal place for refugees from middle European countries, and while the territory could not be considered suitable for immediate large-scale settlement, it undoubtedly possesses potential possibilities that would fully justify carrying out a trial settlement project. The commission is further of the opinion that in the area available for settlement there are soils suitable for permanent agriculture, the natural resources of which make possible co-related industrial development, and that the climate and health conditions are of such a nature that settlement by the people of middle European origin is feasible. The commission, therefore, recommends that a number of receiving camps and trial settlements be started at the earliest possible date involving a population of 3000 to 5000 carefully-selected young men and women placed at properlychosen locations with properlyequipped technical organisation under competent leadership to supervise and direct the activities of these trial settlements, and render them all possible technical, financial. and other assistance. Mr MacDonald intimated in the House of Commons this afternoon that Britain was giving the report active consideration, and he expected to be in a position to make a statement at an early date. Rabbi Perlzweig, chairman of A Section of the World Jewish Congress, commenting on the report, said that though he was grateful for it, it was not the answer for hundreds of thousands who must find a new settlement or perish. “ There is no substitute for Palestine.”