Makes Stirring Appeal Before Council-Permanent Solution ‘Essential for Credit of Civilization,’ He Declares-McDonald Urges Non-Jews Help
A stirring appeal to the nations of the world to open their gates to the homeless refugees from Germany and to the German government to facilitate the task of finding homes for these thousands was made here today by Lord Robert Cecil, chairman of the governing body created by the League of Nations to cope with the refugee problem.
Addressing the session of the council of this autonomous governing body today, the noted British statesman pleaded for the permanent solution of the refugee question “essential for the credit of civilization.” He urged Germany to aid in the work.
“We feel we have a strong claim on the German government to make easier that part of our work concerned with passports enabling refugees to travel and find permanent homes and not to stay where they originally fled, where there is no solution,” he declared.
GERMANY MOST HELP
“This trouble, for which we are not responsible, is caused by measures the German government has seen fit to take. The German government must do something to relieve us of the burden imposed by nothing that we have done.
“We can only do what we are enabled to by the governments we represent, with public support. Merely providing a solution for the day is no solution. We must provide subsistence to prevent starving, but we must seek a permanent solution.
“Some,” Lord Cecil continued, “have found a home in Palestine. But such is possible only for a fraction. A small number have established themselves in other countries without upsetting economic conditions. But small numbers. Some have found homes overseas. It may be possible in the course of time to settle more in countries not densely settled, but a permanent solution is essential for the credit of civilization.”
James G. McDonald, High Commissioner for Refugees, addressing the body, appealed “as a non-Jew to the non-Jewish world to do its duty” and stressed the need for a solution of the problem on the basis of permanency.
“Little has yet been done,” he told the council. “We are not satisfied with our concrete accomplishments. We keenly feel the need for a definitive solution of new permanent homes for refugees.
“I appeal as a non-Jew to the non-Jewish world to do its duty. The Jews are the bulk of the refugees and the victims of circumstances for which they are not to be blamed. If non-Jews helped, only to a small extent, there would be no financial problem. Non-Jews must help, not only with speeches.”
He concluded his appeal by pointing out that refugees are not necessarily burdens to the country in which they settle.
“The United States of America was built by refugees,” he declared. “I, myself, am the descendant of a refugee. America, North and South, must open the gates.”
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.
