Dismissal of Refugees is Contrary to Government’s Attitude, Says N.r.s.

The dismissal of Jewish refugees by a number of employers under the pretext that refugees from Germany are considered enemy aliens, today prompted the National Refugee Service to issue a statement clarifying the attitude of the Department of Justice with regard to the employment of aliens in war-time.

“While the Department of Justice has gone on record as opposing discrimination against enemy aliens for nationality alone, certain employers within the past few weeks have seen fit to discharge enemy aliens in their own employ. It should be noted that no governmental rulings further restricting the employment of enemy aliens have been issued since the outbreak of the war,” the statement reads.

The National Refugee Service refers in its statement to instructions issued by Mayor LaGuardia, head of the Office of Civilian Defense, urging that employers refrain from discharging enemy aliens on the ground that since they cannot become citizens, they are no longer wanted in factories. “We cannot hold law-abiding Germans and Italians in this country responsible for what is going on in Europe,” the New York Mayor is quoted as having said in advising that the dismissal of aliens be halted.

The New York Times in an editorial today similarly warns against dismissals of aliens from their employment.

JEWISH REFUGEES ACCEPTED FOR ARMY SERVICE PROVIDED THEY HAVE FIRST PAPERS

Jewish refugees from Germany and other countries now at war with the United States will continue to be inducted under the Selective Service Act provided they have their first papers, it was announced by the National Refugee Service on the basis of official information received from military authorities.

The Army Recruiting Service, the announcement said, continues to accept enlistments in the Regular Army only from citizens between the ages of 18 and 35, but the local Selective Boards will accept as volunteers any man between those ages regardless of his status as an alien or enemy alien and without regard to whether he has registered for Selective Service. He must, however, have his first papers and must be able to speak, read and write English sufficiently well to understand commands.

The above procedure applies to New York City, but the National Refugee Service believes that a similar policy is in effect also in other sections of the country. There is no way, at the present, by which a non-citizen may enlist in the Navy or Marine Corps.

REFUGEES ADVISED TO CARRY THEIR ALIEN CARDS; CAN ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS

The National Refugee Service today also advised refugees throughout the country to carry on their person at all times their alien registration cards. Those who have not yet received their alien registration receipt cards are urged to write to the Department of Justice, asking when the card will be available.

In answer to questions from refugees covering attendance at meetings, the National Refugee Service informally advised that where the group is meeting under American sponsorship with American citizens present, there is no violation of the President’s Proclamation, but that emigre groups as such had best defer their meetings until a more definite ruling is announced.