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James G. McDonald, High Commissioner for Refugees from Germany, is sailing today from Europe for New York. He is coming to the states in connection with the financing of his work.

The Joint Distribution Committee, in its report this week, has made public the fact that it spent over half a million dollars in cooperation with Mr. McDonald’s office for rendering aid to the Jewish refugees from Germany now stranded in various countries.

The Joint Distribution Committee is not the only Jewish organization supporting the work of Mr. McDonald. It has been stated by Mr. McDonald that eighty per cent of the funds obtained for his work has come from Jewish organizations. The trip which Mr. McDonald now makes to the United States is not only for the purpose of obtaining more funds from Jewish sources but also to interest non-Jews in granting relief for the refugees from Germany.

ARMY OF NON-JEWISH REFUGEES

There are now in Paris a great number of Catholic refugees who are destitute and in need of relief. Not less than 35,000 non-Jewish refugees are expected from the Saar after the plebiscite. This army of non-Jewish exiles must be taken care of by Mr. McDonald’s office. It must receive international attention and support.

While the Jews contribute the major portion of the sum required to care for the fugitives, not a single government has so far displayed any financial interest in Mr. McDonald’s work despite the fact that the High Commissariat was set up by the League of Nations. Little interest has been shown also by non-Jewish relief organizations.

Mr. McDonald’s mission to the States will, therefore, be to obtain more relief from Catholic and other non-Jewish organizations in America. He will also, no doubt, take a special interest in the plans now being completed here by certain groups for organizing reconstructive assistance for the fugitives from Germany.

PLANS FOR SOUTH AMERICA

Perhaps one of the most important features of Mr. McDonald’s present trip to the United States is the fact that he carries with him certain plans for settling Jewish and other refugees from Germany in South America. These plans will no doubt be enthusiastically welcomed by American Jewry.

There have been complaints in certain Jewish quarters that Mr. McDonald’s office is not doing enough. It has been pointed out that the major number of Jewish refugees found permanent homes in Palestine, the very country where Mr. McDonald has agreed not to operate. It has also been emphasized that Mr. McDonald’s office was not sufficiently active in assisting German Jews in exile to take their capital out of Germany.

IS MCDONALD TO BE BLAMED?

The plans Mr. McDonald is now bringing here for Jewish immigration to South America constitute the best proof that the High Commissioner is trying to do his best. The fact that not all of his efforts have been successful should not be held against him but rather against those who are in his way. The financial troubles which his office experiences may also be largely responsible for what his critics term “insufficient activity.”