Britain Urged to Modify Regulations on Refugees

A delegation representing organizations in England interested in assistance to refugees today submitted a memorandum to the Home Office urging modification of regulations regarding refugees and facilitation of international schemes of migration and settlement overseas. in the absence of Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare, the deputation was received by Sir Alexander Maxwell, Permanent Undersecretary of State, who promised the Home Secretary’s sympathetic consideration for the proposals.

The delegation was headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and included Lord Cecil, the Bishop of Chichester, Frederick Kenyon, Sir Wyndham Deeds and Otto Schiff, the memorandum urged:

1– Modification of existing practices regarding the conditions under which de facto stateless aliens live in England and British dependencies, and undergo training work and become naturalized;

2 — That the authorities not insist that those intending to immigrate to England as refugees must be able to return to Germany;

3– Application of the Geneva convention regulating refugees’ legal status to those deprived of German citizenship after ratification of the convention on Feb. 10. It is agreed that nothing be done to encourage the Reich Government to disenfranchise more subjects and to make life impossible for them, but it is asserted that the constant interference of the Nazi Government with civil and religious liberty has already placed many human beings in such a position that their only chance of a tolerable existence lies in exile.

4– General understanding that the temporary permits of aliens be renewed for persons of good character on recommendation of a responsible organization, and acceptance of the principle that families are to be treated as units and that regulations should not operate to keep wives, husbands, parents and dependent children apart;

5– That the authorities recognize the Coordinating Committee for Refugees as the United Kingdom’s advisory body on refugee questions.