Refugees Will Get Better Treatment, Rublee Tells Roosevelt

George Rublee, former director of the Intergovernmental Refugee Committee, reported to President Roosevelt today that he was “firmly convinced that orderly immigration to other parts of the world can be carried out and the refugee will get better treatment than heretofore.” The Washington lawyer was accompanied by Under secretary of State Sumner Welles when he called on the President to report on his six month mission as director of the Intergovernmental Committee during which he negotiated an emigration arrangement with the German Government.

“I am glad that what I say can be of an encouraging nature,” Mr. Rublee declared. “From my conferences in Berlin in January and February with German officials I am convinced that the German Government is prepared to take definite measures to transform the present chaotic conditions of exodus from Germany into conditions of orderly emigration. Naturally, I do not mean to imply that conditions will become ideal overnight. Nevertheless, in spite of previous discouraging press reports, I am firmly convinced that orderly emigration to other parts of the world can be carried out and the refugee will get better treatment than heretofore.”

Mr. Rublee told the President that Australia, the Dominican Republic and South America presented the best possibilities as refugee havens. He said that the Intergovernmental Committee also wished to place Jews in Dutch Guiana, Northern Rhodesia and the Philippine Islands.

Asked by reporters if Germany had placed Jewish emigration on a selective basis, Mr. Rublee said that this was denied by Germany to the State Department. Asked if the Jews were forced to sell their jewels to the Government, he replied that this had been denied by the Nazis, but if true would not interfere with orderly emigration.