Communique on Conference

Excerpts from the official communique issued by the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees at the conclusion of today’s session follow:

“At the third session the officers discussed what President Roosevelt had described in his opening statement as the ‘short-range problem’, including the problem of emigrating those individuals and families who are at this moment in countries of temporary refuge and who, for the sake of the world and themselves, should be placed in permanent domicile as rapidly as possible.

“The meeting was of the opinion that this problem could still best be solved partly by infiltration, that is individual immigration, and partly by an initiation of settlement projects. The meeting took note with particular satisfaction of the fact that the Dominican Government, with great foresight and generosity, had responded to the appeal of the Intergovernmental Committee for opportunities of settlement. The meeting also heard with satisfaction that the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines had responded in a similar manner. Mr. James G. McDonald reported that engineering and economic studies had recently been completed and that practical steps, including financing, in the initiation of settlement were being taken.

“The meeting was informed that similar studies in other areas would be undertaken promptly. The committee also took note of the fact that the Coordinating Foundation, whose Executive President, Mr. Paul van Zeeland, will be present at the meeting next week, is mandated to work with individuals and organizations to investigate the suitability of places of settlement and future resettlement plans. A tribute was paid by the meeting to the unstinted generosity over a period of years of the private organizations.”