News Brief

The British Cabinet tomorrow will discuss plans for rescuing and settling German Jews, it was reported today as the House of Commons scheduled a debate on a Laborite motion calling for united action among nations, including the United States, on the Reich’s anti-Jewish persecution.

The motion, drafted by the Labor Party executive committee, declares: “that this House notes with profound concern the deplorable treatment suffered by certain racial, religious and political minorities in Europe, and, in view of the growing gravity of the refugee problem, would welcome an immediate and concerted effort amongst the nations, including the United States of America, to secure a common policy.”

This debate may elicit some indication of the Government’s views, an intimation also being expected earlier, on Thursday, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain replies in the House to the proposal of a Conservative supporter that the Government consider according Jews special facilities to enter Tanganyika and ask for similar facilities for Jews in Southwest Africa and the French Cameroons.

It was learned that the Government is working on a plan to assist German Jews. The details of the plan, which is still in a preliminary stage, have not been revealed, but it is considered likely that it will be along the lines of finding places of settlement for Jews unable longer to remain in the Third Reich. The British renewed activity is attributed in official circles to the persistency of United States Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy, who has been in frequent communication with Downing Street on the question for several days. There is believed to be a possibility of Palestine’s playing a role in the plan under discussion.

The sentiments aroused throughout the world by the Nazi persecution are expected to facilitate the Intergovernmental Refugee Bureau’s work in finding places of settlement for refugees, a task in which it has been engaged since June with indifferent success. These activities should be aided by favorable public opinion and the cooperative attitude which the British Government is expected to reveal by viewing more liberally the entry of German Jews into colonies and mandated territories, as well as the settlement plan reported under consideration by the Government.