A special Cabinet committee, presided over by Premier Edouard Daladier, last night considered granting protection to “stateless” persons and refugees in France in return for service in the event of war. The meeting followed adoption by the full Cabinet of decrees regulating the status of aliens in wartime. France has the largest number of aliens of any country in Europe — about 3,000,000.
While the decrees will not appear in the official gazette for some days, it was believed the Government would classify aliens under three categories — (1) those eligible for army service, (2) those undependable for army service but suited for public works, field work and fire brigades, and (3) undesirables, to be interned in camps.
Last night’s meeting was concerned with “stateless” persons and refugees among the aliens. It was believed new decrees would grant protection to them, not presently enjoyed by those lacking passports, and would impose on them the obligation of service in the event of war, possibly conscription in special military units. Such measures will be received with joy by refugees from Germany, Austria and former Czechoslovakia, most of whom have already offered their services to the French Government.
Significance was attached to last night’s meeting by the fact that it was presided over by Premier Daladier, a few hours after his declaration on the international situation. Those attending included Interior Minister Albert Sarraut, Justice Minister Paul Marchandeau, Labor Minister Charles Pomaret, Agriculture Minister Henri Queuille and a Foreign Office representative.
Meanwhile, in view of the growing international tension, the League to Combat Anti-Semitism issued an appeal to the Jewish population of France to refrain from political discussions in streets, cafes, subways, omnibuses and other public places. Comparing the present days to last September’s crisis, the appeal called on the Jews to maintain a dignified and restrained attitude and not to reply to provocative remarks.
A warning to Jewish community leaders in Meknes, French Morocco, to exercise caution and not permit “foreign provocateurs” to disrupt friendly relations between Jews and Arabs in Morocco was given tonight in Meknes by General Nogues before returning to Paris after investigating an Arab-Jewish clash which occurred on Tuesday. His investigation established that the clash, in which one Jew and one Arab were killed and seven Arabs were wounded, centered around a Jew who adopted the Moslem religion a fortnight ago. The convert, Abdulla Lahusin, was arrested for suspicious conduct. General Nogues left the city after being assured that complete order prevailed.
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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.
