A message from President Roosevelt expressing “earnest hope” for “constructive preparation for a speedy alleviation of the terrible plight of those peoples whom we have been striving to assist” was read last night at a dinner closing the two day session of the Intergovernmental Refugee Committee. Speakers at the dinner included Chairman Lord Winterton, American Vice-Chairman Myron C. Taylor and Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare of Britain.
Mr. Taylor declared that solution of the refugee problem could not be provided by any one nation, but must be the responsibility of the community of nations. He asserted that President Roosevelt had authorized him to express the earnest hope that the committee could work out a constructive solution to the terrible plight of the refugees.
“Thousands of persons innocent of any crime are being subjected to the severest hard-ships because of racial origin, religious belief, or political opinion,” he said. “The President of my country hopes the 32 governments which have worked together thus far to change the exodus into an orderly emigration from Germany will redouble their efforts to arrive at a solution of the refugee question, which has become one of the great problems facing the world.”
Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Taylor called for a reorganization of the committee’s London office. He said the United States Government was prepared to defray its share of the cost of such reorganization.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
