The decree of the Swiss federal authorities expelling back to Nazi-held territories all the Jewish refugees who entered Switzerland illegally since August 11 was modified by the Government today following numerous protests of the Swiss liberal press which very evidently reflected this general public sentiment.
While the Swiss frontier police will be strengthened to prevent further illegal entry of refugees into the country, those of the Nazi victims who have already entered Switzerland will be permitted to remain under the modifications of the terms of the Government’s original decision. The modifications provide:
1. Refugees who entered Switzerland before August 11, end who announced themselves to the police on arrival, will not be expelled without cause.
2. Refugees who have been, or would be, held under the Swiss customs control while their cases are pending decision, must, without exception, be announced to the nearest police station.
3. The federal Department of Justice and Police reserves for itself the final decision in all cases under examination on the frontiers by the cantonal police chiefs.
The above modifications, arrived at after prolonged discussions between Swiss welfare organizations and the federal police, were received with great satisfaction by the Swiss population. The Swiss liberal evening press, in reporting the news, emphasizes that the revision of the original decision demonstrates that “the sacred institution of asylum remains unshaken.”
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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.
