Appealing to the great western powers to give not only financial support to those small countries, including Switzerland, which are sheltering a large number of refugees from Germany and German-occupied countries, but to provide a permanent solution of the refugee problem after the war, the “Basler Nachrichten” warns that failing such settlement there is a danger of anti-Semitism spreading to countries where it was not known before.
“Even though America does not want to accept all the homeless refugees,” the paper writes, “she is nevertheless obviously prepared to be financially generous in helping to carry the financial burden. This attitude might help countries such as Switzerland that have not the means of securing an exit for refugees, but it should be added that the question is not merely a financial one, but rather a problem of food. This could be alleviated by additional permits allowing Switzerland to increase its imports.
“A long-term solution of the refugee problem should also be discussed,” the editorial continues. “If there is a return to the pre-war ‘laissez faire’ attitude there will be a danger of anti-Semitic contagion in the countries that formerly scarcely knew it. Therefore, it would be very desirable if the powers represented at the forthcoming Anglo-American Conference on refugees gave to the countries that have sheltered a large number of refugees not only financial support, but also a definite guarantee that the refugees would be taken from them as soon as possible.”
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.
