The French Government today announced plans for alleviation of conditions in refugee internment camps after the question had reportedly been raised by the United States Ambassador William D. Leahy.
Admiral Leahy was said to have taken up the problem during his last conference with Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, French Chief of State, pointing out the hardships to which the internees were subjected. Marshal Petain was reported to have evinced an “understanding attitude.”
The new plans provide for “rational distribution” of the 35,000 interned foreigners in three camps–the first at Rivesaltes for whole families with children, the second at Noe for childless couples, persons over 60 years of age and the sick, the third at Barcares for single adults.
The internees will be grouped according to national origin. The Government’s communique said the problem of their upkeep continued to occupy the authorities attention. Dr. Limousin has been appointed head of the camp reorganization service of the Interior Ministry.
Tracts of land will be placed at the disposal of internees for agricultural work for the benefit of the camps. Twenty-one foreign bodies are cooperating with the Interior Ministry with a view to ameliorating the lot of the internees. Schools and professional training centers will also be created in the camps, it was announced.
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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.
