The House of Commons last night approved a grant of L100.000 to aid Polish refugees in neutral countries, after Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Laborite, had criticized the grant as “quite inadequate, since we are responsible to some extent for the fate that has befallen the Polish inhabitants.”
Foreign Undersecretary Richard A. Butler replied to Col. Wedgwood: “I do not think that there is any question of the measure of help we would desire to give to those Poles who have suffered in the terrible tragedies of the last few months. The whole resources of the British Empire now are involved in this war in order to redress some of the wrongs committed and to vindicate the cause for which we are fighting with our Polish allies. Thanks to what we can safely say has been efficient administration, these requirements have in the initial stage been substantially satisfied, and considering the urgency of the need and the fact that the temperature in Winter has been very low, the position is comparatively satisfactory to the extent that the first urgent needs are being dealt with.”
Butler gave assurance that money was available for relief of suffering humanity irrespective of creed. Col. Wedgwood, after describing the Jews’ plight in “Nazi-influenced” countries, particularly Rumania and Carpatho-Russia, reproached the Foreign Office for inducing Rumania not to grant visas to Jews, resulting in refugees’ being stranded in frozen Danube ports.
“We are responsible for the destruction of these 4,000 refugees,” the Laborite declared. He strongly attacked the attitude of many British embassies and consulates regarding persecution of Jews.
“It doesn’t need the Foreign Office and the voice of this House to tell our men and women abroad that they are disloyal to this country if they adopt to the Jews and to democracy only an attitude which makes them agreeable to the people among whom they live,” Col. Wedgwood said.”Such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the wishes of the people and the traditions of this country.
“We are fighting a great war for the humane rules of God and humanity. We will not be, directly or indirectly, partners in vices by which the German Government measure out their hatred for the Jewish people.”
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