A moving address was delivered by Sir Neill Malcolm, League of Nations High Commissioners for Refugees Coming from Germany, who urged creation of a permanent intergovernmental committee. Such a body, he said, would have Roosevelt’s prestige and, coupled with the help of European governments, it could induce Germany to adopt a more generous policy on transference of capital and could raise an intergovernmental loan.
Sir Neill praised private organizations helping refugees and urged that the proposed committee work with them. he emphasized that their efforts were responsible for settlement of 120,000 refugees in a total of 150,000 placed in overseas countries. He cited the Jewish Colonization Association as the best example of work in this field.
Sir Neill disclosed that in conferences with the high commissioners of British colonial territories and dominions they had explained that present labor conditions did not permit of large-scale immigration. He said he had not noticed any anti-Jewish feeling, but among some governments there was the fear that Jewish mass immigration might form an alien group within the country. Sir Neill advised, therefore, that immigration be conducted on an individual rather than a mass basis.
Chairman Myron C. Taylor of the United States opened the session on a cheerful note, declaring the conference was “progressing.” He read a message from president Roosevelt, expressing the hope that the conference would be successful.
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