President Coolidge Considers Plea for Stranded Refugees

“I have been giving serious attention to the subject of stranded refugees holding American visas”, President Coolidge declared in an audience granted to Joseph L. Simon, Chairman of the Republican Committee of Salem, Mass., who came here as a representative of the Independent Order B’rith Abraham to plead for the stranded refugees.

The President advised Mr. Simon to see Chairman Johnson of the House Immigration Committee. C. Bascom Slemp, the President’s secretary, arranged for a special interview with Congressman Johnson. After a brief conference with Mr. Simon and Congressman Perlman, Congressman Johnson offered to permit Mr. Simon to make a statement to the Committee and obtained unanimous consent for that purpose although it was not germane to the pending bill. The representative of the B’rith Abraham made an earnest appeal for refugees stranded at Southampton, Warsaw, Prague and Vienna, relating his observations of their condition while on a recent European trip.

Congressman Raker of California subjected Mr. Simon to a severe and antagonistic cross examination, asserting that there was nothing to stop the immigrants from returning to their homes and obtaining employment. To this Mr. Simon replied that women and children were for the most part the victims. Mr. Simon pointed out that it would be advantageous for America to allow the refugees to come in as the money which is now being sent by American relatives to sustain them would stay in this country. He also made a plea for relief against separation of families.

Mr. Simon also conferred with the newly appointed successor to Senator Lodge, Senator Butler of Massachusetts. Senator Butler manifested great interest in Congressman Perlman’s bill and requested the Labor Department to furnish him information regarding refugees. He also stated he would confer with Congressman Perlman. Mr. Simon also saw Speaker of the House Gillett, who promised to give serious consideration to the matter.