Between the Lines

A number of German Jewish refugees may now be admitted to South American countries, according to information from James G. McDonald, the League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who is now in Brazil.

Mr. McDonald made his trip to South America for the sole purpose of negotiating with governments there for the entry of Jewish refugees from Germany, who are now stranded in various countries of Europe.

Of the 60,000 Jews who left Germany since the Nazis came into power, 15,000 are still unsettled. About 10,000 of them are now in Paris in a most desperate situation. Three thousand of them are in Czechoslovakia subject to deportation at any moment. None of them can return to Germany in view of the mass arrests of returned refugees which have taken place there recently. None of them can be admitted to other countries because of the fear of unemployment.

A GOOD ELEMENT

The majority of these unfortunate victims of the Nazi regime is composed of professionals who would only be an asset to some of the South American countries where there is a shortage of doctors and specialists. Their problem would be easily solved to the advantage of the South American countries if they were only permitted to enter these territories.

It is to obtain such permission that High Commissioner James McDonald sailed for Brazil and other countries in the South American Continent. Once the entry of such Jewish refugees into these countries is permitted, the victims of Naziland will within a very short time make themselves useful citizens of their new countries.

SPECIAL FUND RAISED

With the arrival last week of Norman Bentwich, the associate of Mr. McDonald, in the United States, and with the news now coming from Mr. McDonald himself, the raising of such a fund should meet with no difficulties. Prof. Bentwich is especially ambitious to obtain non-Jewish support in this country for the work done for the refugees by the Commissariat of the League of Nations, since this work includes also assistance to non-Jewish refugees.

SOLVING A PROBLEM

The Commissariat of the League of Nations, which existed hitherto chiefly on contributions from Jewish organizations, will justify its existence if Mr. McDonald actually accomplishes the settling of the 15,000 Jewish refugees in South American countries. These 15,000 Jews are now a responsibility to world Jewry, not only financially but also morally. Something must be done for them to relieve their plight, and the only thing that can be done under present circumstances is to find lands where they would be admitted.