Reich Emigrants Need Quarter of Capital, Winterton Holds in Commons Debate

Efforts are going forward to find new homelands for refugees, but it is essential that the German Government permit emigrants to take with them at least one quarter of their possessions, Lord Winterton, chairman of the Intergovernmental Refugee Committee, declared in the House of Commons today in a debate on the refugee question.

A solution of the problem is impossible without the assistance of the German Government, Lord Winterton said. The problem would be easier if the Reich allowed emigration over a period of five years, with the emigrants permitted to take with them one quarter of their possessions, he declared. Robert T. Pell, vice-director of the Intergovernmental Committee, is resuming negotiations in Berlin which were started by George Rublees, former director, Lord Winterton stated.

Emigration of endangered Czechs and Sudetens was cut off by German occupation of Bohemia and Moravia, he said. He observed that 27,000 Germans may enter the United States each year and that the addition of those granted temporary visas would raise this number to about 40,000. Refugees now being cared for in England, he said include — Germans: men, 4,674, women, 3,663; Austrians: men, 3,340, women, 3,440; Czechs: men, 347, women, 169.

The committee chairman declared that steps were being taken in South American countries and said he was convinced that in time the refugee problem would enter the path of a solution. He emphasized his belief that Jewish refugees should be given agricultural training so that they might be sent to sparsely populated lands, since only a few could be accommodated in Britain and other thickly settled European countries. Regarding the finding of new homelands for refugees, he summarized progress as follows:

“What has been done since Evian? I have stressed on the British Government and on other governments the extreme urgency of finding land to settle these people. Every support is being received from the Colonial Office.

“There is an expert commission in British Guiana. It is partly American and I would like here to pay a tribute to the personal interest displayed by the President of the United States, and it was largely due to his interest that this commission was selected. I hope that the commission’s report will be in the hands of the Evian committee very shortly. A commission has gone to Northern Rhodesia and there are considerable hopes and prospects of bringing about settlement there. The possibilities of settlement in British Nyasaland are being examined by the same commission that has gone to Northern Rhodesia.

“Suggestions have been made by the Dominican Republic and British Honduras. They are under consideration by the Colonial Office. The Dominican Republic has made an offer to take 100,000 settlers. There is an American committee here. In addition, investigation is being made of the possibilities of settlement in the Philippines.”

During the discussion, Col. Josiah Wedgwood said the refugee problem could be solved only by preventing countries from exterminating the Jews. Philip J. Noel Baker emphasized the necessity of employing new methods and conceptions in dealing with the refugee problem and declared that to some new countries an industrial population with capital would bring great prosperity.

Meanwhile, it was announced that Sir Wyndham Deedes has resigned as co chairman of the Movement for the Care of Children from Germany and has been succeeded by Lord Gorell, the author, publisher and editor of Cornhill Magazine who was for five years a member of the staff of The Times. Lord Samuel is retaining his co chairmanship. Twenty Jewish refugees, aged 15 to 18 and some of them of Jewish families formerly wealthy, will sail for Australia on Saturday.