REFUGEES’ PLIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1935, Page 8

REFUGEES’ PLIGHT

MANY FLEE FROM GERMANY. 15,000 MEN STILL UNPLACED. The second meeting of the High Commission for Refugees from Germany was held at London on July 17, and was attended by delegates from 12 countries, including France, Great Britain, Italy and several South American States. The chairman, Viscount Cecil, in opening the meeting, said that a principal item of the meeting’s programme would be to consider whether or not it was advisable to place all refugee organisations under the central administration of the League. In the statement of the High Commissioner, Mr. James G. McDonald, which followed, this item was emphasised at the outset. “I see no prospect,” said Mr. McDonald, “that this task (of providing for the refugees) can be carried to completion except under the direction of an organisation created by the League of Nations, as an integral part of the League system.” Later in his address he illustrated the illogicality of the present position from thn case of the Saar. When this territory was returned to Germany the council of the League decided that the care of former inhabitants of Germany who had taken refuge in the Saar should be given to the High Commission for Refugees, while . the former inhabitants of. the Saar itself were entrusted to the Nansen Office. Thus at present there were two agencies to “deal with the problems of persons who are essentially in the same need.” He paid a tribute to the French Government for its generous attitude to the Saar refugees. There might have been a great tragedy had France not opened its doors to this great stream of refugees. The High Commissioner mentioned recent discussions with Latin-American countries on the possibility of their receiving refugees. Argentina and Brazil were open only to agricultural immigrants, but others—notably Columbiahad proved less inaccessible. The present situation was that of the (roughly) 80,000 refugees, 27,000 had gone to Palestine and 6000 to the United States. Some were repatriated in countries of Central and Eastern Europe, but 15,000 were as yet unplaced. The need for financial help was enormous. Organisations of the non-Jewish refugees, in particular, was sadly needed, as also was some revision of the various laws about the juridical status of refugees. At present not only could a refugee not find work, but it was increasingly difficult for him to gain permission to reside in any given country.