The Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organization ended its fifth session here over the week-end with a “freeze” order tarring refugees leading their countries of origin or habitual residence after from international aid.
The deadline order, introduced by Great Britain and supported by the United States, was phrased as a recommendation to the future council of the I.R.O. It was attacked at once by representatives of the voluntary relief agencies observing the sessions who charged that it would, leave tens of thousands of racial and political refugees without any organized care.
Before adjourning, the Commission approved a program to approach all interested governments to determine what “fair share” of DP’s they would admit as immigrants.
Results of the first occupational1 surrey of DP’s undertaken by the Preparatory Commission were also disclosed at the final session. The study, which covered 330,000 persons or half of those now receiving I.R.O. aid, indicates that one-third of all the male DP’s in Europe are skilled workers and about one-fourth are agriculturists. At the same time, the Commission approved a report calling for an intensified vocational training program.
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