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Roosevelt Puts off Refugee Parley Day for Sake of Late Arrival; to Address First Session

October 15, 1939
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A one-day postponement of the White House conference on refugees was announced today by President Roosevelt to enable participation in the opening session by one of the important delegates whose arrival from abroad has been delayed. The refugee conference, called by President Roosevelt last July, had been scheduled to open Oct. 16 and was to last two days.

The President told his press conference this morning that he will address the officers of the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees following a luncheon at the White House on Tuesday. He said his words will be released to the public.

Although all sailings from England have been guarded with great secrecy, it was believed that Sir Herbert Emerson, director of the Intergovernmental Committee and League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Lord Winterton, committee chairman, will reach New York on Sunday. Former Premier Paul van Zeeland of Belgium, president of the Coordinating Foundation, is not expected to arrive until Monday.

The luncheon meeting at the White House on Tuesday will be regarded as the opening session of the conference. The officers of the committee will then go into session at the State Department, President Roosevelt said.

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