Myron C. Taylor, former chairman of the United States Steel Corporation, was yesterday named by President Roosevelt as American representative on the proposed international commission for political refugees from European countries. Mr. Taylor sailed for Europe on the Conte di Savoia as his appointment was being announced.
At the same time, the President named the members of the American committee on refugees. James G. MacDonald, formerly League High Commissioner for Refugees from Germany and now associate editor of the New York Times, was made acting chairman, and the Rev. Samuel McCrea Cavert of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, secretary, pending the committee’s permanent organization.
Other members of the American committee are Paul Baerwald, honorary chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee; Dr. Stephen S. Wise; Bernard Baruch; Hamilton Fish Armstrong, editor of Foreign Affairs; Prof. Joseph P. Chamberlain, former member of the League refugee commission; the Most Rev. Joseph F. Rummel, Archbishop of New Orleans; James M. Speers, New York merchant; Basil Harris, vice-president of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missionaries, and Louis Kennedy, president of the National Council of Catholic Men.
It was learned that among problems to be dealt with by the American committee will be disposition of refugees who have been given one-way passports by Germany. New York newspapers reported refugees with such passports would not be admitted, the Ellis Island immigration authorities contending such passports were in direct contravention to the immigration laws.
According to the reports, the State Department, to obviate difficulties at Ellis Island, has instructed American consuls to refuse visas to all persons holding the one-way passports, which are reportedly being issued by Germany to guarantee non-return of the holders. Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he had no information on that score.
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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.
