If post-war immigration is to be carried out successfully, it must be divested of all aspects of charity by having the settlers bring with them the will and ability to work and it must be financed by an international organization with the cooperation of all the great powers, according to a survey published by the Foreign Policy Association today.
The survey, prepared by Winifred H. Hasdel, of the association’s research staff, points out that at least 16,000,000 people have been uprooted as a result of Axis persecution during four years of war and that many hundreds of thousands more will be displaced in the months to come.
“It seems unrealistic to assume that all of Europe’s present refugees, and especially those who are far from their old homes, will be repatriated automatically as a result of a United Nations victory,” the report says. “On the other hand, it is also unlikely that none, or few, of those now in Europe will be unable or unwilling to return. The object should certainly be to return as many of the people who wish to go back to their own countries as soon as possible. But obviously repatriation alone will not solve the problem. In finding new homes for Europe’s refugees, many areas throughout the world will have to be explored, but the mere uncovering of widespread possibilities will accomplish little so long as plans for resettlement rest merely on appeals to hospitality and tolerance.
“An essential condition of gaining admittance for refugees in new countries is that immigration be divested of the appearance of charity by having the settlers bring with them not only technical ability and the will to work, but also some economic resources for developing their new homeland. Since, however, the impoverishment of Europe’s persecuted people will probably remain a primary factor in post-war economy, funds for their transportation, settlement, retraining and adjustment will have to be raised from outside sources.
“In the past, financing of this kind has been done by private organizations, but their resources are clearly too small to cope with forthcoming post-war problems, although their personnel and experience will be of great value in the task ahead. What is required, therefore, is a collective effort of the type that only the great powers acting jointly, or an international organization, would be capable of taking.”
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