The Intergovernmental Refugee Committee has acted to ameliorate the plight of refugees aboard ships barred from their intended destinations, it was learned today, as negotiations went forward for formation of an international corp oration to finance large-scale colonization of German Jews overseas.
The Intergovernmental Committee was understood to have made informal representations to the German authorities regarding the approximately 200 Jews aboard the German liner Orinoco which returned to Hamburg last weekend after it appeared that it would be impossible to land them in Cuba. As a result of the intervention, it is understood that the Jews will not be interned in concentration camps but will be permitted to return to their homes.
The office of Sir Herbert Emerson, director of the Intergovernmental Committee, has also been maintaining close contact with central Jewish organizations regarding other refugee ships at sea, such as the German liner St. Louis and the French steamship Flandres.
Sir Herbert has conferred with Colonial Secretary Malcolm MacDonald and others regarding the plight of refugees aboard ships in the Mediterranean without permits to enter Palestine who are not permitted to disembark anywhere. The viewpoint was expressed in interested circles, however, that it was difficult for the Colonial Office to take action so soon after the announcement of Britain’s new Palestine policy.
It was reported that headway has been made in the negotiations now proceeding in London regarding formation of an international foundation to finance and direct large-scale emigration of Jews from Germany, in accordance with the understanding reached between George Rublee, former director of the Intergovernmental Committee and Dr. Helmuth Wohlthat, German Economics Ministry official.
Representatives of an American group, which had been discussing the project in New York with Myron C. Taylor American vice chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee, are now holding discussions with the committee’s London bureau and are also in contact with financial interests in other countries.
The discussions are believed to be proceeding so far along broad lines and questions of detail have not been gone into. It is not yet clear to what extent existing organizations which have been engaged in refugee relief and resettlement will participate in the new foundation or exactly how the work will be arranged.
According to the London Jewish Chronicle, a concrete scheme has been discussed for creation of a large central body, with local executive bodies, to finance refugee settlement in suitable areas through long term international loans, credits and generous gifts pending realization by governments of the need of parallel grants by them for achieving a full solution of the problem.
Theodore Achilles, who arrived here recently to take up his duties as Third Secretary of the United States Embassy, is actively participating in the negotiations. It is believed that Robert Pell, vice-director of the Intergovernmental Committee, who is a State Department official, will complete his official tour of duty here in the Summer and return to Washington, in which case Mr. Achilles will succeed him as vice-director.
Joseph Harsch, former Washington correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor, who has been appointed assistant director of the Intergovernmental Committee, has also arrived here to take up his post.
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