The transfer of foreign-born interned Jewish refugees from unoccupied France into the Nazi-occupied part of the country was reported here today. It was authoritatively learned that the first group of foreign-born Jewish refugees were sent from concentration camps in unoccupied France to various sections of the occupied zone to do forced labor.
It was not possible to establish whether further transfers would be made but it was pointed out here today that such a possibility exists. This would affect thousands of Jews who escaped from Germany and who will now again fall into the hands of the Nazis.
There are today more than 60,000 Jewish refugees in unoccupied France, according to an estimate made on the basis of official French Government figures. They include refugees who had found asylum in France prior to the invasion, as well as several groups who have arrived since the invasion, such as 8,000 from Belgium, 1,000 from Luxemburg, about 8,000 from Baden and the Palatinate, and the Jews expelled from Alsace-Lorraino.
The welfare of some 20,000 interned Jews who are centered largely in eight major camps, is being supervised by the Camp Commission organized by the Comite d’Assistance aux Refugies which has its headquarters in Toulouse and which is in touch with the Joint Distribution Committee.
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