The 32-nation refugee-aid conference decided at a closed plenary session this afternoon to limit the activities of the permanent intergovernmental committee on refugees to those from Germany and Austria. (American Delegate Myron C. Taylor, in his opening address last Wednesday, had set as an ultimate objective the creation of an organization concerning itself with all refugees, “wherever governmental intolerance shall have created a refugee problem.”)
The general resolution drawn up by the United States, British and French delegates was adopted with the following amendment limiting the scope of the committee to: “Persons who have not already left their country of origin, who must emigrate on account of political opinion, religious beliefs or racial origin; second, persons defined in number one who have already left their country of origin and who have not established themselves permanently elsewhere.”
The resolution adopted is based on the report of the subcommittee which heard government representatives on the number and types of immigrants they can admit. It notes with satisfaction that the report of the technical subcommittee “holds out prospects for increased reception of refugees qualifying for admission under the immigration laws and practices of receiving countries.”
“The Committee also notes further that certain countries have indicated a desire to consider plans for settlement of refugees in their territories where such plans are presented by official or private organizations,” the resolution says.
“The Committee also observes that countries bordering on Germany (including Austria), while unable under existing circumstances to add considerably to the number of refugees in their territories, may continue to make an important contribution to a solution of the problem by affording facilities for educational — technical and agricultural — training of refugees to whom temporary stay is given. The conference therefore recommends that the governments represented in the committee shall continue to study in a generous spirit the problems raised in the report of the subcommittee.”
The conference asked Mr. Taylor to remain as chairman until the London session on August 3. The committee’s activities will be continued in Paris under Mr. Taylor’s chair- manship until July 24, when they will be moved to London. The sessions will wind up formally tomorrow with concluding addresses. The American delegation will go to Paris tomorrow night.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
