The Interior Ministry revealed today that preparations were under way for dealing with the country’s more than 3,000,000 aliens in the event of war. The announcement brought hope to thousands of Polish, Rumanian, Austrian, Czech and German Jews who are willing to volunteer for service in the French army but are nevertheless held in jails as illegal aliens because their countries of origin would not readmit them.
The cases of those now in prison may be reviewed, it was indicated when leading statesmen and newspapers opened a campaign not only for a more liberal attitude toward aliens but for revision of the immigration and naturalization policies in order to enable them to join the French defense forces.
In connection with this campaign, it became known that: (1) Government plans have been completed for employment of the majority of aliens in various public works and national defense in the event of war, and for internment in concentration camp of political agitators; (2) Justice Minister Marchandeau is drafting a decree revising the immigration and naturalization regulations for submission to the Cabinet after Easter; (3) Frenchmen such as Yvon Delbos, Paul Boncour and Justin Godart are creating a society to be known as the “Friends of France,” whose aim will be to rally all aliens “without distinction of race, nationality or religion,” to the national defense.
Revesing the anti-alien sentiment that prevailed in the last few months, most Frenchmen now realize that the aliens can contribute greatly to defense of France. Some newspapers point out that during the Munich crisis, more than 100,000 aliens registered as volunteers. The papers estimate that a minimum of 500,000 aliens are ready to fight for France, while the remainder would be useful in the fields and factories, where a labor shortage is already felt because of increased production and the relative scarcity of young men under 30 who, in the event of war, would all be mobilized.
Advocating absorption of aliens, the liberal and Socialist press cite the United States and Australia as examples of what immigrants can do in developing a country. At the same time a number of statesmen are suggesting that a start be made in adjusting aliens to such specialized work as France may need if war develops. They point out that it is becoming increasingly difficult for coal operators, iron and steel masters and farmers to obtain French laborers.
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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.
