The social committee of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, by a seven-one vote with abstentions, today approved the definition of the term refugee, for use in the preposed convention relating to the status of refugees. According to the definition, a refugee is one who:
1. Between Aug. 1, 1914, and Doc. 15, 1946, was considered a refugee;
2. Had been accepted by the International Refugee Organization as falling under its mandate;
3. Has a well-founded fear of being the victin of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion as the result of events in Europe prior to January, 1951, and owing to such fear is unable or unwilling to avail himself of the protection of the government of his country or his nationality.
The committee docided that the convention shall not apply to refugees who voluntarily ro-acquired their former nationality or acquired a new nationality or returned to their former country or are former members of a German minority who established themselves in Germany.
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