Reich Refuses to Negotiate on Refugees in Demonstration Against Roosevelt

The German Government has served notice that it declines to open any negotiations with George Rublee, director of the intergovernmental refugee bureau, regarding emigration of refugees with part of their capital, “because Roosevelt’s recent address contained severe attacks on the Reich.” This notification, which was given to the British Government by Berlin, was discussed in Paris yesterday between Senator Henri Berenger, French vice-chairman of the Intergovernmental Refugee Committee, and Myron C. Taylor, American vice-chairman, on the latter’s arrival here from London.

Although it is generally believed that Berlin’s demonstration against President Roosevelt will not affect the United States’ attitude toward Germany, nevertheless neither Mr. Taylor nor Mr. Rublee will for the time being proceed to Berlin, as was contemplated by the international committee.

(Berlin evidently referred to President Roosevelt’s address at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont., on Aug. 18 when he made what many interpreted as an attack on Reich persecution in declaring:

(“We seek to be scrupulously fair and helpful not only in our relations with each other (Canada and the United States), but each of us at home in our relations with our own people. But there is one process which we certainly cannot change and probably ought not to change. This is the feeling which ordinary men and women have about events which they can understand. We cannot prevent our people from having an opinion in regard to wanton brutality, in regard to undemocratic regimentation, in regard to misery inflicted on helpless peoples, or in regard to violations of accepted individual rights. All that any government, constituted as yours and mine, can possibly undertake is to help make sure that the facts are known and fairly stated. No country where thought is free can prevent every fireside and home within its borders from considering the evidence for itself and rendering its own verdict; and the sum total of these conclusions of educated men and women will, in the long run, become the national verdict.”

Meanwhile, the refugee situation is worsening and the dumping of Jews by Germany in neighboring countries is increasing. The league of nations high commissioner for German Refugees indicated that he is considering suggesting the establishment of concentration camps for refugees in countries bordering Germany where Jews have been expelled.

Simultaneously, the Hungarian Government today gave a three-day ultimatum to 47 Jews from the Burgenland province of Austria, who have been anchored on a barge in Hungarian waters of the Danube since they were driven out of Austria on April 16 with no country willing to accept them, that their barge would be forced out of Hungarian waters on Sept. 1 to float along the Danube.

At the same time, more than 3,000 German Jews who have already established themselves in Italy are again becoming refugees, since they face expulsion from Italian soil. They present a difficult problem because no country is willing to admit them and Italy may deport them to Germany at any moment.

The suggestion for establishment of concentration camps for “dumped” refugees is seen by the league high commissioner as a temporary solution until certain overseas lands, especially Australia, agree to absorb refugees as immigrants. According to the league sources, it will take several months before negotiations now in progress with Australia are productive.