Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, speaking in the House of Commons today, declared that the only effective means of saving the Jews from Nazi extermination is a victory of the Allies. He added that he is at present unable to say anything concerning the demands for international action to rescue the Jews, emphasizing that some such action has been taken but that it would not be in the interests of the victims to disclose the details.
Rejecting the suggestion that a special minister be appointed to deal with the problem of aiding the Jews, Eden stated that he did not think that the appointment of the late Fridtjof Nansen by the League of Nations after the last war to deal with refugee problems could serve as a precedent for dealing with the problem at present. He said that England is not ready for the time being to give any assurance to neutral governments on the question of maintaining refugees who they may admit. Such assurances can be given only after consultation with the other United Nations, he declared.
A suggestion that the British Government send an envoy to the countries concerned in order to expedite the emigration of Jews from Nazi-held territory, was impractical, the Foreign Secretary declared. “I doubt whether this would expedite matters,” he added. He also brushed aside the suggestion that Parliament have a full debate on the various recommendations on alleviating the plight of the Jews. “I believe that such a debate would not facilitate matters,” he stated.
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.
