Jewish refugees from Nazi-held countries are admitted to Sweden when they can prove that they actively participated in political activity for which they might be punished, but are denied entry if they only olaim that they are fleeing racial persecution, Charles E. Gratke, foreign editor of the Christian Science Monitor, who is now touring Sweden with a group of American journalists, today reported in a cable from Stockholm.
“Jews seeking entrance to Sweden on the general basis of racial persecution are not permitted entrance visas,” Mr. Gratke cabled. “This restriction was tightened up after the invasion of Norway but was modified in the fall of 1941 for the benefit of Norwegians who were being subjected to harsh treatment at the hands of the Nazis. The actual humanitarian effect of these most recent changes was small since the Germans soon began refusing Jews exit permits from Norway.”
There are 20,800 refugees in Sweden, of whom 16,000 came from Norway, the Monitor correspondent reported. They include stateless Jews as well as Jews from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. Those coming from Norway, after border questioning, have been given a rail ticket and travel without guard to a camp at Kjessaeter which is controlled by the Norwegians themselves and who pass on the refugees. Refugees who are deemed unreliable are sent to the Haelsingmo foreigners’ camp for further examination. At Kjesaeter, Norwegian doctors decide who is suitable for forestry work, and those unsuitable are given further examination at special employment agencies.
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.
