The political commission of the League of Nations Assembly today recommended continuation of the office of High Commissioner for German Refugees until 1938, at which time the Assembly would reconsider the entire question of Reich expatriates.
The commission also decided to ask all members of the League to ratify the decision of an inter-governmental conference held under League auspices last July 4, which defined the juridical status of refugees in foreign countries.
This arrangement, which would go into effect thirty days after ratification by subscribing nations, provides for issuance of identity certificates to exiles by nations in which they take refuge. The certificates will be used as a form of passport.
To implement this provisional arrangement, the political commission decided to take steps for the convoking of another inter-governmental conference to draft an international convention for refugees and to assist organizations handling refugee aid.
France, Denmark, Great Britain, Holland and Switzerland have already signed the refugee arrangement, thereby undertaking to issue certificates of identity to refugees and not to return exiles to Germany.
The political commission recommended appropriation of 400,000 Swiss francs for Saar refugees in Paraguay.
The commission nominated Michael Hanssen of Norway as president of the Nansen International Office, which issues passports to “stateless” persons, until the liquidation of the office in 1938.
The recommendation for continuation of the refugee office was made by Sir Neill Malcolm, of England, the provisional High Commissioner until the current League session, in his report to the League.
The future activities of the High Commission, according to Sir Neill’s recommendations, are:
1- Improve the juridical status of refugees.
2- Advance concrete emigration and settlement plans with the aid of private refugee-relief organizations.
3- Promote and coordinate private organizations.
4- Submit proposals for future conduct of the work to the Assembly at its meeting in Sept. 1938.
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