A Cabinet subcommittee is now studying a report on possibilities of refugee settlement in British Guiana made by an Anglo-American experts commission under the sponsorship of President Roosevelt’s Advisory Committee on Refugees, it was learned today. The Cabinet is expected to draft a Government policy on settlement of refugees in the South American colony which, together with the commission’s report, will be published as an official White Paper.
It is reliably understood that the commission reported very favorable on Guiana’s possibilities and agreed that the colony could absorb large numbers of refugees after a comparatively short period of pioneering work. According to well informed sources, the commission discovered a large belt of fertile black soil in the interior of the colony, the existence of which had previously been unknown. The commission also reports the observations of individual members, who expressed themselves as most optimistic about the possibilities, provided a prepared and well organized scheme of colonization is followed.
While the British Government is not committed by any statements to open the colony to refugees, it has indicated willingness to assist in a solution of the refugee problem. It is believed here that the Government will take the necessary measures to open the colony to refugees. The possibility of colonization in Guinea was first offered last November by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in a statement in the House of Commons.
The commission’s report has not yet been communicated to the German Government. It is believed that when the plans for settlement are drawn up, they will provide that a large proportion of the settlers will be drawn directly from Germany. At the same time there will be a drawing off of refugees from countries of temporary shelter in Europe to make room for others from the Reich.
The opening of British Guinea will, it is believed in informed quarters here, result in a considerable improvement in the refugee situation. Progress is being made in the establishment of a corporation to finance refugee settlement in overseas countries and an improvement in the German attitude toward emigration.
A change for the better in the emigration situation is expected as result of the recent visit to Berlin of Robert T. Peel, vice-director of the Intergovernmental Refugee Committee. In recent months, Reich Jews with visas for other countries have experienced great difficulties in securing permission to leave.
It is reliably learned that 2,000 men with permits to enter England for lodging in the Richborough refugee camp were not able to leave the Reich, but it is now believed that they will be allowed to emigrate. As contrasted with other parts of Germany, in Austria there has been no relaxation in pressure for emigration and Jews have been encouraged, even forced, to leave.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
