DEPARTURE FROM PLAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21403, 21 July 1939, Page 10

DEPARTURE FROM PLAN

Problem of German Refugees Britain Favours New Method British Official Wireless RUGBY, July 19. A communique issued after a meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee for Refugees from Germany Mates; "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. "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 emigration of refugees, to which the director had referred in his report, the British Government had come to the conclusion that it would be necessary to depart from the principle agreed upon at the Evian meeting, that any participating Gov- ; ernment would give direct financial ( assistance to refugees and subscribers. | Britain Ready to Give Lead "The Government was examining Hie manner and extent to which pri- j vate subscribers to the international i fund to assist in defraying the expenses of overseas emigration of

refugees might be encouraged by Government participation. If other Governments were prepared to agree to this change of principle, and cooperate in such participation, the British Government would take the initiative in proiwsing 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 they underook to refer the matter to their Governments."

Before the meeting adjourned until to-morrow, 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 in Washington during the first week in September. Refugees in Europe An announcement on the lines of that of Earl Winterton's regarding the departure from the Evian principle was made in the House of Commons to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain).

It is estimated that the number of refugees who were left in Germany in 1938 was not fewer than 120.000 and it may have been as large as 140,000. It is also estimated that there are, in European countries, excluding Germany, not fewer than 150,000 refugees who have left Germany, and that approximately 60.000 of those are wholly or partially supported by private organisations.