James G. McDonald, chairman of the President’s Advisory Committee on Political Refugees, upon his return from Washington today issued a statement emphasizing President Roosevelt’s satisfaction that actual steps can now be taken to begin settlement of European refugees in the Dominican Republic, following the official announcement made by ex-President General Rafael L. Trujillo that his country will immediately admi 500 selected refugee families without the payment of the usual $500 immigration fee.
“The Dominican Republic offers the first immediate concrete step toward clarifying many of the problems inherent in settling mass populations anywhere in the world other that Palestine,” Mr. MacDonald said. “The Dominican Government has just made a written, precise proposal of terms of settlement which look toward the ultimate absorption of 100,000 people
“Significant in our minds is the generous and realistic attitude of the Minister to the United States from the Dominican Republic, His Excellency Andres Pastoriza, who has stated on behalf of his Government that they are not actuated only by humanitarian impulse but by the fact that just as our United States has been built into a great nation by pioneers of other lands, refugee immigrants will further contribute to the constructive progress of the Dominican nation.
“The President’s Advisory Committee has had the Dominica experiment under careful and constant consideration since the Intergovernmental Committee’s Conference in Evian in July 1938.
“Preliminary studies made by a Commission of experts selected by Dr. Isaiah Bowman, President of Johns Hopkins University, leading authority on resettlement, recommend settlement in the Dominican Republic, pointing to the necessity of soundly worked out long-term plans which must however begin on a small, modest scale.
“Conditions of life for the refugees are reported favorable. Plans provide agricultural settlement of a non-sectarian nature with full guarantees for free exercise of religion and all rights and privileges enjoyed by citizens of the Republic. Full citizenship is to be granted in two years.
“Settlement will take place under the auspices of a non-profit corporation financed by interested groups under the leadership of Mr. James N. Rosenberg, Chairman of the American Jewish Joint Agricultural Corporation. Within the next month it is expected that specialists in settlement projects will leave for the Dominican Republic to lay the foundation for future work.
“Since the future success of the project depends largely on the human material involve the refugees themselves, careful steps are being taken in selecting men and women who can settle successfully in the Dominican Republic.”
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