The British Government has agreed to admit between 200 and 250 of the 907 St. Louis refugees, it was learned today. The refugees will be maintained in England by Jewish organizations pending their ultimate re-emigration.
Announcing the Government’s decision to admit a portion of the St. Louis passengers, who had been denied disembarkation at Cuba, Home Undersecretary Peake told the House of Commons that the special arrangements being made in this case were not to be regarded as establishing a precedent for future similar cases.
Of the refugees on the St. Louis, which has been steaming back to its home port of Hamburg, 750 possess affidavits which will enable them ultimately to emigrate to the United States. The remainder have permits for other countries.
Action of the British Government in accepting a share of the refugees followed appeals by several private organizations, with the support of Sir Herbert Emerson, League High Commissioner for Refugees and director of the Intergovernmental Refugee Committee.
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