Dr. F. Nansen’s report to the Council of the League of Nations on the activities of the Advisory Committee to the High Commissariat for Refugees included a substantial account of his efforts in behalf of Jewish refugees in Poland, Bessarabia and elsewhere.
Following his representations, the Roumanian Government agreed to refrain from a mass expulsion of the ten thousand refugees in Bessarabia who were to have been deported for “military reasons”. Provided recognized Jewish organizations arranged for their satisfactory evacuation, the Roumanian government declared itself prepared to allow the majority of refugees to remain until September, he said.
“The most lenient interpretation” of the expulsion decree was promised him by Premier Sikorski of Poland, on condition that energetic measures were taken by interested parties to secure the early evacuation of the deportees, Dr. Nansen reported further.
In response to requests by responsible Jewish organizations, Dr. Nansen said he negotiated with the Soviets regarding the repatriation of Eussian refugees. The Soviets replied they were ready to allow the repatriation under his auspices.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
