Refugees of All Nationalities;

HOLLAND RESOLVED, That we urge the creation of an international HUNGARY commission of the League of Nations to deal with the problem IRELAND of the political, religious, and racial refugees of all nationalities;

NEW ZEALAND RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution he sent NORWAY to the Secretary General of the League of Nations.

SWEDEN SWITZERLAND Respectfully yours, united states

D< rothy D LITHUANIA Executive Luxembourg Palestine

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ROUMANIA SOUTH AFRICA

URUGUAY YUGO-SLAVIA p 20A/7187/686

Geneva, November 15th, 1933.

Madam, I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your le tte r of November 1st, 1933, in which you were good enough to forward to me the text of a resolution relative to the problem of refugees adopted by the National Board of the Women’s International League, United States Section. I have the hohour to be, Ivladam, Your obedient Servant,

\h-r ili Secretary-General,

L'.iss Detzer Hive Secretary, ',/omen’s International League for Peace and Freedom, 532, lYin 17th Street,uweev, N.W.,in.w. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. ^ 4-"7 U ! 2 / £ £ 4 ^ Tel.gr.m._A„.mblg B.ir.,1 / / 7 / ^lBphona.278B Belfaih

/ W)» Pvr@liv)levian (Ebttrri) in ^Ir^litni) j7T^ V V

Rev. W. A.Watson.MA..O.O. Church House. Belfast.

■ .. v V ^ \ \ - " " \ \ . - 19th July, 1935.

Sir:

At a Meeting of the Mission Board, representative of our whole Church, I was instructed to forward you the enclosed resolution, and to request you to be kind enough to forward the copy enclosed to the Nansen Refugee Committee.

I am, Sir, Sincerely Yours, d.

To Secretary General of the League of Nations, Palais de Nations, Geneva.

a e n d s . - 3 ' Resolution j ^ v i r t u e of its conneotlon with Manchuria vzhere for more

than 60 years the Irish Presbyterian Church has conducted missionary work, the Mission Board of the Church at its meeting in Belfast on 17th July, 1935, ventures to draw the attention of the Secretary General of the League of Nations to the plight

of the White Russians in Harbin.

From the recent investigations of Dame Rachel Crowdy we understand that more than 20,000 of this pitiable community are

on the verge of starvation.

Since White Russians are without a country of their own, and in the stress of local conditions at Harbin are finding it increasingly difficult to earn a living wage, we suggest that, if possible, the Nansen Refugee Committee should be invited to take action in this urgent matter, for example, along such lines

as the following:-

(a) Further investigation of the facts brought to light

by Dame Rachel Crowdy. (b) Assistance for those agencies that are considered satisfactory, at present working on behalf of the

young. (c) A strong effort of a permanent nature to save from extinction this large body of friendless Europeans in Asia, whose sufferings are due to political causes

for which they are not responsible. 2011/7187/686

Geneva, July 28th, 1935.

Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the reoeipt

of your letter, date! July 19th, ani to inform you that,

aooorilne -lth your request, oopy of the resolution you «ere

good enough to transmit has been for»arde4 to tho Hansen

International Office for Refugees.

I have the honour to be,

Your obedient Servant (pjM-

Deputy Secretary General in charge of the Section of International Bureaux.

Rev. W.A. Watson, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Church House, BELFAST.

L. LE AL Ut! OF ftiAfi v N b r é g i s RECE-'V^ [23^193$ j

— ------.....j Geneva, July 25th, 1935.

Dear Aajor Johnson,

Enclosed, I am forwarding you, for your

information, copies of two letters received from the Confe

rence of Missionary Societies and the Presbyterian Chureh

in Ireland respectively.

Sincerely yours

ilaJor Johnson, Secretary General of the Nansen International Office for Refugees, 10, rue Général Dufour, GISHEVA. a * * y i,c e in V ^ W a t io n a l NANSEN n a n s e n international o f f ic e POUR LES RÉFUG IÉS " T ’N Â T IO rls 'l FOR REFUGEES i;. -iieTRY I fj Sous l'autorité de .la- ;■ " 7 " Z T ^ I Under the authority of th e /^ ,^ SOCIÉTÉ DES NATIONS : "1 I LEAGUE OF NATIONS / ^-'ZÀUai935

Réf. n. 2 0 B /16309/16809a ig „__j3E...t.«*-r,30th J u l y 1935.

Dear Miss Kallia, I beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of July 25th., enclosing copies of letters from the Conference of Mission ary Societies and the Presbyterian Church in Ire-

Should you have received a copy of Dame Rachel Crowdy's report on the plight of the White Russians in Harbin - mentioned in the Resolution accompanying the letter of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland - I should be grateful if you would kind ly let me have a copy.

Miss A. Hallsten Kallia, League of Nations Geneva . The Save the Children Fund GORDON SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.i

h (lie Compliments o f the General Secretary V o l u m e x v i SEPTEMBER 1936 FOURPENCE 7A 7 o

The Official Organ of the Save the C.hi Id ten bund cniil of the Declaration, oj Geneva

REFUGEES — Their Enduring Misery Task before this month's League Assembly

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD WORLD'S MALCOLM SARGEN1 HOTHENSTEIN BRAYBROOKE

THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND, 20 GORDON SQUARE, LO N D O N , W.C.I . • T H E WORLD’S CHILDREN Se p t e m b e r , 1936

DUCHESS OF YORK AT HEBBURN

Stone-laying for New Nursery School

New Departure by Save the Children Fund

HE LAYING by Her Royal Highness the the school, presented the Duchess with a cheque, Duchess of York of the foundation stone of which she handed to the Chairman of the Council, T the new Nursery School which is being built expressing the wish that it should be used to provide under the auspices of the Save the Children Fund at a sun-ray lamp and a weighing machine for the Hebburn-on-Tyne, on July 28, was an event of high school. importance in the history of the Fund. Subsequently, there were presentations to Her Not only did the occasion afford another instance Royal Highness, and among those presented was of the interest which members of the Royal House Mrs. Gladys Skelton, member of the Council of the take in the work of the Fund—dating in the case of Save the Children Fund, who had travelled from the Duke and Duchess of York from 1920—but London to represent headquarters at the ceremony. it marked a new departure in policy in regard to the Keen interest in the nursery school movement was building of these emergency nursery schools for shown by the Duchess when she discussed the new the children of the unemployed. Hitherto, forty school with Councillor Mrs. Peterkin, chairman of pupils has been the unit for which the Fund has the Local committee, and the Medical Officer for built, and in two cases at least the success of the Hebburn (Dr. J. L. Burn), who is also hon. secretary venture has been so great after the first year or of the local committee. A few days later Lord Noel- two as to necessitate extension of the premises to Buxton, the Fund’s President, received a letter from accommodate eighty. Hebburn begins with accom the Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess, who said : modation for eighty, and there is no hope that even ‘ Their Royal Highnesses both hope that this new this number will fully cover all the children of venture may prove a great success and of real benefit nursery school age (two to five) who specially need to the children of the neighbourhood.’ the kind of help which is offered by a nursery school. Although the nursery school at Hebburn will But it will do something—like the eight nursery be the ninth to be established by the Save the Children schools already established by the Save the Children Fund, a number of others have been assisted by the Fund in centres of economic distress—towards Fund. Seven of the existing nursery schools—at saving the toddlers from the privations and anxieties Middlesbrough, North Shields, Byker, Sunderland, which long-protracted unemployment brings to Leeds, Brynmawr, and Merthyr Tydfil— have already home life. been accepted by the Board of Education as part The weather was not kind on the occasion of of the educational system of the country and in the the Royal visit to Hebburn and a deluge greeted the latest annual report of the Chief Medical Officer o f Duke and Duchess on their arrival at the nursery the Board the work was given special commendation. school site, but there was no lack of sunshine in the Moreover, not long before the King came to the faces of the children—some of the pupils-to-be, and Throne, he visited the nursery school at Sunderland, their elder brothers and sisters—who had gathered and said it was ‘ an excellent piece of work ’. to welcome the Royal visitors. The Save the Children Fund has in hand plans Councillor R. Ferguson, chairman of the Hebburn for other such schools, but progress depends upon Urban District Council, formally welcomed the the continued support of the more fortunate of our Duke and Duchess, and Her Royal Highness replied fellow-countrymen, to whom no better way of to his address. Another Councillor, Mr. J. Black, shielding young children from the miseries conse junior, who happened to be the head of the firm of quent on long-continued parental unemployment contractors, handed a trowel to the Duchess, who can be commended. Wrote a North-country ‘ well and truly ’ laid the stone, which was blessed mother the other day : * I hope these nursery schools H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF YORK by the Vicar of Hebburn, the Rev. W. Harriman. will grow and prosper so that all little children can laying the foundation stone of the new Nursery School which is being erected under the Save the Children A member of the firm of Messrs. Page, Son and have the same good start in life that mine are having.’ Fund’s scheme at Hebburn-on-Tyne, July 28, 1936. Bradbury, the South Shields architects who designed Could there be a finer tribute, or a stronger urge ? [Photo by Fox Photos, Ltd., Manchester.]

[ I' 1179] Se p t e m b e r , 1 BER, 1936 THE WORLD’S CHILDREN THE WORLD’S CHILDREN THE PROBLEM OF THE REFUGEES Responsibility of the League THE TASK BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY

THE SA V E TH E CH ILD REN FUND has been caring for refugees of many nations since BUT A L L TH IS WORK, necessary as it is, fails to get at the root of the problem, which is 1 9 1 9 . It has provided food, clothing, medical aid and education, has found homes for orphaned that the refugee must cease to be a refugee and must be given some measure of citizenship in the land children, and built model villages for refugee families. It has saved many thousands of lives and in which he has sought refuge. The following special article, reviews the situation and defines the given great numbers of children a chance of being self-reliant citizens. .... policy of the Save the Children Fund.

EAR AFTER YEAR the refugee problem During the interregnum men were deemed to live which is that of immigration. The refugees are For reasons both psychological and political repatria appears on the agenda of the Assembly of the in a state from which law was entirely absent. It never exiled from their country by reason of the tion was impossible. Overseas settlement demanded YLeague of Nations. Year after year the was not until after the election of a new king that economic liability which they represent. They are considerable funds and could have been applied Assembly examines the reports presented to it by by his will the laws were restored and again put exiled and proscribed because of political, religious, only to a small minority of refugees. Naturalisation the organisations charged with the work, sends into force. In reality this dissolution of the social or racial intolerance. Their number is never so en m asse was refused by the Governments. them to its commissions, approves them, and passes structure was only theoretical. The fundamental great that their presence is able to create economic And while these impossible plans have been bolstered the resolutions which have been submitted to it. bonds of society remained in existence and escaped the difficulties. The proof of this is that since the great up, the real solution which would have helped the From year to year the interest in this question doctrine of the interregnum. Will civilised people exodus of Russian refugees no country has under refugees to make for themselves a new existence diminishes. It is a thankless problem. To solve it, show themselves less careful of the perpetuity of taken a census of them or established a definite have been neglected. These real solutions are well it would be necessary for the States-members of the the principles of right ? Will their conscience allow figure. They would have proceeded in a different known. Without speaking of measures applicable League of Nations not to content themselves with them to think of the refugees as if they were manner if the presence of the refugees had been felt only to certain categories of refugees (such as the abortive resolutions but to adopt a common line outside the law because their country of origin has to be an economic burden. Certainly the presence settlement in Erivan of Armenians from Turkey, of action agreeing as to policy and loyally carrying withdrawn its protection from them ? of people who are not responsible to any Government or the transfer to South America of refugees capable out the engagements into which they have entered. gives rise to juridical, political, administrative, and and desirous of being settled as colonists) the But for various reasons their behaviour has been humanitarian problems. But these problems are not principal solution is the gradual absorption and The League’s Prestige entirely different. The refugees are defenceless. new. They are as old as the right of asylum. Free assimilation of the refugees in the countries where It seems that we can forget with impunity both The whole structure of the League of Nations is peoples have never shirked them and have always they are resident. their interests and their rights. In the troublous based on the recognition of values which have their tried to solve them. times in which we live one only attributes importance own existence, independent of the arbitrament of The principal reason invoked in justification of Legal Status Essential to those problems which are forced on our attention the State and of Governments. Should the inherent inaction is the pretended impossibility of liquidating In order to arrive at this end, to bring about the by violence and we neglect those which are dictated rights of the human personality be excluded ? We the problem of the refugees. In fact, if one compares adaptation and assimilation of the refugees, it is by the higher considerations of human solidarity arc firmly convinced that without loss of prestige their present situation with that of five or ten years necessary to institute a law which remedies their and human dignity. The refugee problem belongs the League of Nations cannot leave the refugees ago, one is struck by the change which has taken condition as men without legal protection and to this second category. without protection and that the nations who remain place. Never has the situation been more difficult assures them an equal place in the community which faithful to the League should not neglect the problem than it is to-day. But if one thinks of the complete has accepted them. The organisations of the League A Human Responsibility of the refugees at the moment when they are averring absence of a coherent policy, one realises that the of Nations concerned with refugees (the Nansen Yet this course is rife with perils. Without once more their common desire to maintain and to result could not be otherwise, because instead of International Office and the Inter-Governmental denying everything that is most precious to it the preserve justice and peace. seeking the right solution all these years, we have Consultative Commission) have elaborated pro grammes in this sense and have suggested numerous human community cannot dissociate itself from the There is yet another reason which weakens the been trying to find a means of avoiding the problem. practical measures. Nevertheless, the putting into condition of millions of human beings for the only work for the refugees. One may well ask, why should force of these measures has always met with resis reason that these people, persecuted because of their the free countries which respect the rights of man Abortive Efforts tance. There has been provided for the refugees opinions, their race, or their religion, have been support the supplementary charge of the refugees In 1922 an effort was made to repatriate the from Russia and Armenia the Nansen Certificate compelled to leave their own country and to be no while less scrupulous countries banish their own refugees ; in 1924 to settle them in countries over (a similar document has just been created for the longer under its protection. citizens and withdraw from them the rights of seas ; in 1927 their naturalisation en w as se was German refugees) which should take the place of a There was a time when the death of a king caused citizenship ? Such reasoning is fallacious. It suggested. All these projects broke down because passport. But if the refugee goes to a Consulate the annulment of all the laws of his country. substitutes for the refugee problem another problem, of obstacles which should have been easy to foresee.

[ 1 8 0 ] I *81J « THE WORLD’S CHILDREN Se p t e m b e r , 1936 T H E WORLD’S CHILDREN S e p t e m b e r , 1936 and asks that his certificate shall be visa-cd for entry In China hundreds of refugee women, girls, and A Wrong to be Redressed refugees should not necessarily be joined to the into any country whatever he is generally faced children without means of existence or protection The Committee of Five recommended that this older organisation which deals with Russian and with a refusal. A Convention was drafted on have only the choice between suicide and prostitution. wrong should be redressed. One may be certain other refugees. In fact the situation of the German October 28th, 1933, relating to the international This is the present situation of the refugees. that this will be done. Germany is no longer in refugees, their juridical condition, the group of status of refugees. In effect this set up an equal Will the Assembly examine it fully ? Opportunity the League to impede its action. Moreover, the private organisations interested especially in them, status for them. But the Governments have intro will be afforded because this year the question will decision has already been taken because, without and their particular aptitudes distinguish them from duced a number of reservations and are slow to be presented with more completeness than usual. waiting for the pronouncement of the Assembly, the other refugees. It is probable that the League ratify it. From year to year the League of Nations the League Council, by its resolution of January 24th, of Nations will adopt the dual solution. We feel demands of the Governments that they put an end The Committee of Five 1936, authorised its President to nominate in place that the choice between the two courses is purely to the scandal of expulsions which cannot be legally At the Sixteenth Assembly the Norwegian Govern of Mr. McDonald, who had resigned, a High Com a question of opportunity. What is important is carried out. But there are many countries which ment put forward a proposition with the object of missioner of the League of Nations for German that effective protection shall be assured to all these still continue to compel the refugees to penetrate generalising and unifying the work for the refugees. refugees. General Sir Neill Malcolm was nominated categories of refugees. We attach great importance fraudulently into neighbouring countries and to This proposition was that there should be nominated to this post. It is not likely that the Assembly will to the question of competence. The League Council put in prison those refugees who refuse to be a Committee of Five (Messieurs Michael Hansson, withdraw from the German refugees the League has put in the foreground of the activities of the treated as contraband. de Michelis, Stephan Osusky and Roland-Marcel, protection which they have now enjoyed since High Commission for German refugees the elabora But what makes the refugee situation particularly and Sir Horace Rumbold) who were charged with January, 1936. The Assembly will have to consider tion of a juridical statute. In the matter of relief difficult is the prohibition which is imposed against the duty of examining the problem of the refugees in this matter only two questions. It must decide work the Council has reduced the task of the High them of gaining a livelihood by their own work. in its completeness. After minute examination the whether the protection of the German refugees Commission to the establishment of liaisons with The crisis has compelled the Governments to take Committee drafted a report and formulated certain shall remain in the future with the High Com voluntary associations. severe measures to protect their own national propositions. Unhappily, from the beginning strict missioner or whether a separate organisation shall employees. These measures (work permits for limits were imposed on the Committee’s work : it be charged with responsibility for all refugees who Charity not Enough foreigners and a quota for foreign labour which was to have in mind only German refugees and those come within the scope of the League. If the We do not over-estimate the importance of relief. must not be exceeded in any undertaking) are which come within the scope of the Nansen Office— Assembly maintains the High Commission for We do not envisage the problem of the refugees applied to the refugees without discrimination, Russian, Armenian, Assyrian, Assyro-Chaldean, German refugees it must define the functions of as a problem of charity. The stage where direct although—and here they differ from other foreigners Turkish, and Saarois ; it must propose nothing this Commission. relief plays the predominating rôle has long since —they have no power to return to.their own country, which would involve new expenses and it must The Norwegian proposition of 1935 was in favour passed. Nevertheless, we must not completely and although their number is not so great as to respect the earlier decisions as to the liquidation of the unification of work for all the categories of neglect this aspect of the matter. More particularly influence the labour market. These restricted of the Nansen Office by December 31st, 1938. refugees. We share this point of view. The Com at a time when there is no convention to ensure measures are applied to the refugees with greater In thus limiting the mission of the Committee mittee of Five takes a similar attitude, but at the help to refugees who are incapable of working or severity than to other foreign workers because the the League Council reduced considerably the effects same time admits the possibility of a dual solution. prevented from working and destitute of resources. latter are protected by diplomatic treaties, by the of its work. This is all the more regrettable since We do not fail to recognise that there do exist Having said this we await with confidence the threat of retaliation and by the intervention of their the Committee was composed of eminent per serious reasons why the organisation for German decisions of the Assembly in regard to the German Consular authorities. On the other hand, the sonalities and the majority of its members brought refugees are without defence. a great deal of goodwill to the accomplishment of their task. It is on the report of the Committee of Suicide or Prostitution Five that the 1936 Assembly is called upon to TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH WORLD-WIDE WORK FOR CHILDREN The sum total of these facts creates an intolerable make a decision. Consequently this Assembly will READ REGULARLY EVERY MONTH situation. The solution of the problem is not only have to decide on the future of the work for German held back, but radically jeopardised ; the progress refugees as well as of the work for the refugees who formerly realised checked. The refugees are not at present come under the ægis of the Nansen Office. THE WORLD’S CHILDREN able to leave the countries where they live. The The exodus of refugees from Germany dates from THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SAVE TI-IE CHILDREN FUND distribution of them, which at one time seemed to the accession of the Nazi party to power. In 1933 be practicable by reason of economic possibilities it was proposed that the League of Nations should -ORDER FORM- offered by various countries, is arrested. They are undertake the protection of refugees who fled from constrained to remain in the country where the Germany. At that time Germany was still a member To the Publisher, The W o r ld’s C h il d r e n 193 crisis overtook them and there they are reduced to of the League and she opposed this proposition. 20 Gordon Square, London, W.C.i misery. When their resources come to an end, The Assembly sought a compromise : it created LEASE have T h e W o r l d ’s C h il d r e n sent to me regularly for one year prison is the only place of asylum where they may for German refugees a High Commission, but this rest. In several countries where the influence of was placed beyond the authority of the League. Pand thereafter until countermanded, beginning with the next issue. Geneva makes itself less effectively felt, such as Mr. James McDonald, who was nominated High I enclose 5^. od. (or $1.25) to cover the first year’s subscription and postage. Manchukuo, the misfortune of the refugees is Commissioner, gave himself devotedly to his task, Signature ...... exploited for political ends. The refugees are but his efforts were in vain. The High Commission, (Mr., Mrs.. Miss, or Title) submitted to the compulsory guardianship of persons independent of the League, had not sufficient Address ...... in the pay of the Government who use them as an authority to intervene in an effective manner on instrument to serve the purposes of their masters. behalf of the German refugees. _n------T H E WORLD’S CHILDREN September, 1936 THE WORLD’S CHILDREN S e p tem b e r , 1936

1938, as the date of the dissolution of the Nansen into a neighbouring country, of those to whom all refugees. We are certain that the injustice of 1933 mated ten years as the time necessary for completing Office. The Committee of Five had to accept this employment is forbidden and who are therefore will be redressed and that League protection of the the work with which he had been charged. The invitation. Nevertheless, it was perfectly well aware forced to become beggars in their last days, o f those, G erm an refugees will be made permanent. League adopted this estimate and fixed at ten years of the impossibility of liquidating the organisation in fact, who are robbed of the most elementary Quite otherwise is the question of the Russian the maximum duration of its refugee work. In charged with the refugee problem before having human rights because, not belonging to any country, and Armenian refugees and others who comc within 1930 the League confirmed this period when there liquidated the problem itself. It sought a solution, they cannot invoke the condition of reciprocity. the scope of the Nansen Office. First of all the was created the Nansen International Office to but it had not found one. In its report it insists that We do not overlook the fact that political and Assembly m ust appoint a President o f the Office. continue the work of Dr. Nansen, who had died. the liquidation should be ‘ constructive ’. It pro juridical protection of the refugees under the ægis T he choice does not present m uch difficulty. In The resolution of the Eleventh Assembly, which posed that after the dissolution of the Nansen of the Nansen Office has been undertaken since January, 1936, the Council o f the League put at created the Nansen Office, stated that its mission Office its duties should be carried out jointly between 1930 by the Secretariat o f the League o f Nations the head of the Office Judge Michael Hansson. was limited by the above-stated period o f liquidation. the Governments and the private organisations. but we know equally well that, in fact, the Secre In order not to arrogate to itself the powers of the At the moment when this decision was taken the This formula of * constructive liquidation ’ does tariat is not equipped for this task and that it has Assembly, the Council gave this appointment era of prosperity came to its end. Since 1930 the not dispel our apprehensiveness. Because we know acquitted it by delegation to the Nansen Office with a provisional character. We do not doubt that the refugee situation has become worse. We have already shown to what a level it has now fallen. how indispensable was the work of the League at a its system of representatives in eighteen countries. Assembly will make it permanent. It could do no The dissolution of the Nansen Office, at least until better. The Nansen Office has always had at its It is beyond doubt that in face of the misery from time when the condition of the refugees was incom parably better, when certain Governments were it has been replaced by an organisation of the same head men of great distinction such as Dr. Max the insecurity and the sufferings which are endured granting them subsidies which could be reckoned standing and as closely related to the League, would Huber and the much-regrettcd Professor Georges by the refugees the League should never dream of by millions, and when the private organisations which have fatal repercussions on the condition of the W erner. But it is the first time that it will be placed considering as immutable a date fixed ten years in were flourishing in those times were able to render refugees. We hope that the next Assembly will under the effective leadership of a personage who advance, and to abandon the refugees to their lot substantial aid—as, for example, the £632,204 dis keep in mind all these considerations, that it will will give to it his whole time. Judge Michael without taking account either of the present situation pensed by the Save the Children Fund and the not disown the work which the League has done Hansson, eminent jurist, man of great experience in or of the consequences which would follow such £276,248 by the Afmenian (Lord Mayor’s) Fund— during the past sixteen years and of which it ought international work, organiser and administrator of abandonment. But there again politics come in to trouble the how can we believe that this work has become to be proud. We hope, moreover, that the members the first order, has brought to the Office new methods of the Assembly, whatever may be their feelings in of work. In the few months of his presidency he humanitarian work of the League of Nations. In superfluous in a time of crisis when the very existence of the refugees is threatened, when suicide and regard to the refugees, will not allow political has instilled into the Office new life. Many o f the 1933, at the moment when Germany had prevented tuberculosis caused by crushing misery are decimating passions to penetrate into the sacred sphere of friends of the Save the Children Fund had the the League from giving its protection to German them, when the Governments have stopped all humanitarian action. privilege of meeting him during his recent visit to refugees, the U.S.S.R. made its first appearance at England, and they were deeply impressed by his Geneva. The new member did not then demand subsidies and the resources of the private organisa THE ASSYRIAN REFUGEES judicial exposition of the refugee problem. But this that the former decisions o f the League should be tions are much reduced ? O T ONLY, among refugee problems, will the future We affirm with knowledge of the cause, streng fortunate nomination will not suffice. It is still revised, she did not oppose the continued protection of the Nansen Office be considered at the forthcoming thened by experience that extends over a period of Assembly o f the League o f Nations : the Assyrian necessary that the League should have the determina o f Russian refugees. But when at the Assembly N sixteen years, that the liquidation of the League’s question will also come up on the Report of the Advisory tion to establish securely his work for the Russian, o f 1935 M. Coht, first delegate of Norway, developed Committee of the Council on the Settlement o f Assyrians from Armenian, and other refugees. It is on this point his plan for the unification and extension o f the work would result in a catastrophe which would Iraq. This will be presented by Senor Olivan, now Spanish bring a million human beings to the end of their that we feel grave disquiet. League’s work for refugees, M. Litvinoff replied Ambassador at the Court o f St. James’s, and it will record the that he was not in favour of new expenses for the resistance. Even worse will be the consequences setback which the settlement scheme has received in conse following the withdrawal of the League’s protection quence o f the French decision to seek release from the Syrian Proposed Liquidation of Nansen Office artificial resuscitation of organisations which were Mandate. France is impelled to cancel the plans made for the So long ago as 1929, during a period o f prosperity of the refugees. Certainly the Governments protect settlement of Assyrians in the Ghab since—as an official when the work of placing and settling refugees was It was undoubtedly this negative attitude of the the life and the possessions of all foreigners who French statement says—she “ cannot see her way to lay so reside in their territory, but this rudimentary pro heavy a mortgage on the inheritance that she bequeaths ’. progressing in a satisfactory manner, Dr. Nansen, Government of the U.S.S.R. which led the League tection is not sufficient. It was always completed In these circumstances the whole problem, which there was then the High Commissioner of the League of Council to invite the Committee of Five to regard every hope was at the point o f satisfactory settlement after Nations for Russian and Armenian refugees, esti as irrevocable the decision fixing the 31st December, by that which is exercised beyond the frontiers. three years’ strenuous effort, is reopened. In order that refugees should not be reduced to a The Archbishop of Canterbury raised the question in the condition of being beyond the law it is necessary House of Lords on July 28, and Earl Stanhope, replying on that an international authority should make good to behalf of the Government, said that their view was that FOR THE FUTURE------although this was a serious setback it was a check and not an them the protection of which their country of origin Readers of THE W ORLD’S CHILDREN who are conscious of the claims of the children as citizens of the abandonment o f the whole scheme. The Government felt, future and thus find themselves in sympathy with the objects of the Save the Children Fund are invited to has deprived them. and Lord Stanhope thought the League Council still felt, that rem em ber the organisation when making their wills. the situation could not be allowed to rest where it was. Appended is a form of bequest which may be useful to friends who are desirous of allocating a part of their Refugees Hunted like Beasts The Assyrian Settlement National Appeal, sponsored by the Archbishop, with Mr. L. S. Amery, M.P., as chairman of estate to assist in the furtherance of this work and the promotion of the ideals of the Declaration of Geneva. To those who would speak of letting the task of ' I give to the Save the Children Fund, whose registered office is situated at 20 Gordon Square, London, the executive committee, and Capt. G. F. Graccy as organising W .C .I, the sum of (here insert amount, adding 1 Free of Legacy Duty ', if so desired), to be applied to the protection devolve upon the countries of residence secretary, has published in the Press a resolution to the effect general purposes of the said Fund ; and the receipt of the Hon. Treasurer for the time being shall beasufficient of refugees, we would answer : Remember the that ‘ Regarding the honour of the British nation as involved, discharge to my Executors for such legacy.' refugees who are pursued like hunted beasts, obliged the Committee of the Assyrian Settlement National Appeal pledges itself to carry out the work already begun and to O n making a bequest to the Save the Children Fund it is desirable that intimation should be forwarded to to exist under the flail o f arrest and arbitrary expul the General Secretary, at the registered office, 20 Gordon Square, London, W .C.I. continue to collaborate with the League of Nations Committee sion, of refugees who languish for months and years and His Majesty’s Government in the task o f finding a lasting Why askest thou how long be lived ? I say be lired to posterity : be passed in prison because of their refusal to pass secretly and satisfactory solution to the Assyrian problem ’. away, but gave himself to be a memory for all ages to come.— Seneca

[ 1 8 4 ] * S e p t e m b e r , 1936 THE WORLD’S CHILDREN Se p t e m b e r , 1936 THE WORLD’S CHILDREN

WELFARE WORK IN BOMBAY THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND DREAMS COME TRUE Needs of the Anglo-Indians Tribute to the Founder Sidelights on Adoptions IN CANADA HIGH TRIBUTE to the memory of Eglantync Jebb, HE SAVE T H E CHILDREN FUND Child Protection founder o f the Save the Children Fund and author Committee has received from one of its correspondents, Professor Norman MacKenzie, Chairman A o f the Declaration of Geneva, was paid at Hampstead Y MOST BEAUTIFUL DREAMS ARE COMING TRUE. God bless you for your generosity I ’ TMiss Georgina Maugham, superintendent of the shelter Adult School not long since. The speaker was Mr. Frank L. of the League of Mercy for the Presidency and Diocese of Brown, and his subject was the influence of the personality In these words a little Hungarian boy who has ROFESSOR NORMAN A. M. MACKENZIE, who been befriended by a subscriber to the Save the Children Fund Bombay, an account of the work which is being carried out sincc 1950 has been chairman of the Canadian committee of Jesus, to illustrate which he introduced the life and work ot through this agency. While the main purpose of the shelter Miss Jebb, who was, he said, a unique exemplar of the influence under the Adoption Scheme writes in anticipation o f his Po f the Save the Children Fund, is Professor o f Public and summer holiday in the country, the first he has ever had. is to provide a temporary home for any European woman Private International Law in the University o f Toronto and of Jesus at work. Sketching her life story against the grim or girl who is stranded or destitute—and so far as the rescue background of the child tragedies of post-War Europe he ‘ I would never have dared to think it was possible for me also President o f the T oronto branch o f the League of Nations to g o to the country for a holiday,’ he says. * Mother is very side of the work is concerned it receives a Government showed how the great heart of this * Sister of all the World grant—the League of Mercy is also doing important work Society in Canada. had led her to organise the fight against conditions of misery happy and I am so happy that I cannot even sleep at night.’ Professor MacKenzie was born in Nova Scotia and was Several hundred children have enjoyed holidays this year among the Anglo-Indians, that is to say, persons of mixed educated in the pub and despair. English and Indian parentage. * As we considered the insistent claims for the rights ot the through the generosity of their Save the Children Fund lic schools of that ‘ Anglo-Indian work is,’ she goes on, ‘ much more difficult child as embodied in the Declaration of Geneva,’ writes one god-parents, who have given them this advantage over and province and at above the usual undertaking to subscribe five guineas a year than Indian work amongst children. The Anglo-Indians Pictou Academy. who was present, ‘ and were touched by pathetic pictures of seem to be unwilling to regard themselves as belonging to children who are being saved by loyal workers o f the Save the for their special needs. After farming for Under the Adoption Scheme, the essence of which is that this country. O ur aim is therefore to try to take children four and a half years Children Fund, our hearts were drawn once again to reverence away completely from their environment and bring them up that little group of disciples who watched with wonder when an individual child is put into touch with a subscriber whose in Saskatchewan, he gifts are used especially to help him, many interesting friend with the English outlook on work. We have nearly always to entered Dalhousic the Saviour set a little child in the midst, and we seemed to get a Court order when we take a new child, otherwise if catch echoes of His pleading in the clear tones of a woman’s ships result. Personal information such as the child’s age University in 1913, there arc parents, however poor they arc, they may eventually voice : See that ye despise not one o f these little ones . . . fo r o f and nationality and the circumstances of his parents is sent and in Christmas of to the subscriber, together with his portrait and address. come and demand their children back, which in years past stub is the Kingdom o f Heaven.' the following year In their exotic phraseology, some of the expressions of has resulted in our taking children and having them for a enlisted as a private gratitude of these children arc deeply moving. Here is a few years only. Especially have we to guard against a return in the 6th Canadian Tunbridge Wells Branch Hungarian child, writing to her benefactor : ‘ lam so moved to their homes at the age of 12-14. Under the Bombay Mounted Rifles. The HE ANNUAL MEETING of the Tunbridge Wells by your kindness that in my joy I could sink down at your feet Children’s Act we can keep them until they are 16. following autumn he Branch of the Save the Children Fund was held on in token of my gratitude. I will always pray for you.’ ‘ There are hundreds of boys as well as girls just running went with them to TJuly 28th, at the house o f Miss E. F. Jones, who has been Children o f a dozen different nationalities arc adopted about the streets—no hope of education, soon becoming France, and after a hon. secretary since the inauguration o f the branch some under the Save the Children Fund’s scheme, but of the 600 uneducablc, uncontrolled, and eventually unemployable. year’s service was twelve years ago. In the absence of the chairman, Miss Powell, who arc placed through the London office, more than 200 There is no free education for Anglo-Indians : the Govern invalided to Eng the hostess herself presided. Her report as hon. secretary are themselves British children. Generally speaking, the ment give Destitute Grants which enable schools to admit a land. Later he was showed a continued interest in the adoption scheme o f the adoption subscription is used to supply that supplementary few children free—that is, free so far as the parent is concerned, transferred to the Fund, whercunder Tunbridge Wells subscribers assist two nourishment which is so sorely needed by many children in though even so someone has to buy books : but these 15 th Battalion Nova specially chosen children who are in great need in South the distressed areas and among the families o f the unemployed free places are very few now.’ Scotia Highlanders, Wales. The customary co-operation with the local branch of in London and elsewhere. Striking evidence of the value of was awarded the the Women’s International League produced in addition a this help comcs in a report recently received on twenty-one Military Medal and useful number of children’s garments. children in the north of England, who were adopted under Bar, and recommen The visiting speaker was Miss Mosa Anderson, a member a bequest from the late Miss Ann Hick. -PUT THE CHILD FIRST’ ded for a commission of the Council o f the Save the Children Fund at headquarters, Take the case of John R. : ' T he school doctor reports that in the field. who reviewed the work of the Fund in general, at home and John is much brighter and stronger and his attendance at says Dr. Ralph H. Crowley Professor Mac- abroad. She was glad to be able to say that in its seventeenth school has been excellent.’ O r that of Joseph H. : ‘ Since PROFESSOR MacKENZIE returned E MUST LEARN to look upon society from the year the Fund showed no signs of loss o f vitality. While old taking the extra milk supplied through the adoption he is Dalhousic in 1919, and there completed w ork for the degrees friends were inevitably passing on, new ones were coming much brighter and attends school regularly.’ Or that of point of view of the child,’ said Dr. Ralph I I. Crowley, of B.A. and LL.B. He then took post-graduate work at forward to take their part in the work, and though the need for seven-year-old Thomas B., whose condition was such as to be a member of the Save the Children Fund Open-Air Committee, at the Third International Conference on Social Harvard and was granted the degree of LL.M., and a Carnegie relieving children in distress showed no abatement the Fund * bordering on mental deficiency ’ and who is so much im W ork. ‘ If you make your social organisation right from the Fellowship in International Law for further study at Cambridge, at the same time lost no opportunity of taking a lead in many proved, thanks to the extra nourishment supplied, that ' he point of view of the child, you will not have much difficulty England. After some time as legal adviser to the Internationa kinds of constructive work for improving the conditions under is now definitely not a case for the special school Labour Office o f the League of Nations at Geneva, he returned which children live. These cases are typical o f many on the records of the Save in fitting in your organisation for the adults.’ to Toronto in October of 1926 as Associate Professor of Law. Miss Anderson spoke especially of the open-air residential the Children Fund. There are many hundreds o f children Criticising the English system, Dr. Crowley said we had not yet got much understanding of what the child needs. In addition to his university position, Professor MacKenzie school at Broadstairs and o f the emergency open-air nursery in need o f adoption and offers to help them will be welcomed F or example, in regard to the school child, medicine was in is also a member of the Nova Scotia Bar. He was chairman or schools in various parts of the country which were helping to by the secretary of the Adoptions Department, The Save the one department of the public administration and education the Research Committee o f the Canadian Institute of Inter combat the evils of unemployment and the consequent under Children Fund, 20 Gordon Square, London, W.C.i. national Affairs and a delegate to the 4th Biennial Conference nourishment of the children. Describing some aspects of the in another. Things had certainly improved, for he could of the Institute of Pacific Relations at Shanghai in 1931. He work o f the Fund in other lands, where it has founded and recall conditions thirty years ago when there was no medical is also chairman o f the Toronto branch o f the Canadian M r. F red Mander, member o f the Council of the inspection o f school children and though teachers might see maintained hospitals, clinics, schools, and orphanages, Miss Save the Children Fund and general secretary o f the National Institute of International Affairs and is the honorary secretary Anderson spoke from recent personal observation o f the defects they had no official means o f remedying them. Union o f Teachers, attended the conference o f the International Referring to the recent development of medical and psycho of the Canadian Club of Toronto. plight o f the refugees from Russia and Germany in France, Federation o f Teachers’ Associations at Geneva last month. where for many years the Fund had been giving emergency logical child guidance clinics, in which co-operation between relief to their children. The thanks o f the meeting were T he Medical O fficer of H ealth for Qgmore and Garw the doctor, the educationist and the family was an essential voiced by Miss Scott. (Dr. W. A. Murphy), once again in his annual report, lately factor o f success, Dr. Crowley said, we were never going to Stamps— English, Overseas British, and foreign—are get integration of the community until we got integration of always welcome to the Save the Children Fund, which has issued for 1935, pays tribute to the Save the Children Funcl T he Irish Save the Children Fund is conducting a for the help which it has given in combating malnutrition the child. We had got to see that we did what was right by means of turning them into money in aid of the work. I hey the child in medicine, in education, in social work, all through should be addressed to Miss K. Pittman-Davis, The Save the campaign to secure that school children shall be given sufficient in this penurious area of South Wales. ‘ The help given by his developmental period up to eighteen years of age. The Children Fund, zo Gordon Square, London, W.C.i, and it is mid-day interval to enable them to get an adequate meal, this Fund has been much appreciated by the parents,’ says schools must become centres of parent education, for where the convenient if they are sent in separate packets corresponding instead of the snack which is all that the present half-hour Dr. Murphy, ‘ and 1 am under a deep obligation to the Committee for their continued generous help.’ child is there should be the centre o f the community. to the three groups stated. interval allows. [186] I i»7] Se p t e m b e r , 1936 THE WORLD’S CHILDREN S e p t e m b e r , THE WORLD’S CHILDREN

sing us on the great cause for which we were fighting and the ($) Provision of some substitute for national Consulates ; Tiie second annual report of the Sunderland Emergency THE LIBRARY TABLE Open-air Nursery School gives prominence to the part played need for carrying on to a finish, and if they had appealed to (4) Legal status ; us, we should no less generously have given our pocket money (5) International protection.’ by the Save the Children Fund in founding this school. In the office of THE ’wORLD's” CHILDREN! her report as superintendent, Miss Margaret E. Kirkby, who to spoil the lives of those same children.’ 20 GORDON SQUARE, W.C. I Moreover, he insists that to secure freedom of movement has just retired on marriage, notes that as a result of her efforts There in a nutshell, says the writer, is the material on which and choice of residence two things arc necessary : the provision to establish a better standard of speech 1 the children can education for peace has to work, and he puts forward a number Importance of Voluntary of a substitute for national passports and a liberal policy in often be heard to correct themselves and one another in saying of practical suggestions. the matter of visas. such words as dae instead of do, whe instead of who, mesel One of the most important is his recognition of the fact Maître Rubinstein emphasises the importance o f getting rid instead o f m yself, and claes instead of clothes. Recently,’ says that there is no inborn antipathy to other nations or ethnic Social W o rk of the constant danger o f expulsion, and he regards as an Miss Kirkby", ‘ a three-year-old was watching me do something groups, like the hostility between cats and dogs. * Infants indispensable condition of refugees making a fresh start the and said, “ W arra ycr gonna dae wi’ that ? ” I looked up and do not dislike the foreigner, even when his skin is of another And Refugees, Nutrition, Nursery grant of ‘ an equitable and well defined legal status ’ in the said nothing and immediately she said with much deliberation colour ; white children arc very fond of their Indian, Chinese, country receiving them. Finally, he speaks of the need for and perfect enunciation, “ What arc you going to do with and Negro ayahs. And most of us wanted to be Red Indians Schools and Other Topics an international organisation under the authority o f the League that ? ” ’ There is a good deal to be said in favour of dis rather than cowboys.’ of Nations to undertake the task o f protecting the refugees. couraging such Americanisms as ‘ warra ’ and ‘ gonna ’, but Hence, if our children arc encouraged to get to know O RD TW EEDSM UIR—whom most people still think not everybody will approve an attempt to abolish such indig people of other lands and races, the danger of war-like spirit of as John Buchan— paid a noble tribute to voluntary enous words as ‘claes ’ and ‘dae’. After all, Sunderland isn’t will be reduced. ‘ Travel and exchange of pupils can be very L social welfare work when, as Governor-General of so very far from Scotland, and both these words arc good Burns. helpful, though not every age is suitable, and to put a child Canada, he attended the annual meeting of the Ottawa Welfare In every country there arc throngs of people living out in the position of isolated foreigner on the defensive may have their days in a dreary state of sub-health, without vitality or Bureau. The speech is given in extenso in the May issue of I once asked a teacher in one of the nursery schools of unhappy results. A popular foreign teacher, who can give Child and Family Welfare, published by the Canadian Welfare spirit, because they lack either the energy or the knowledge his pupils a taste of another nation’s mentality and culture, is to remedy this condition. That is the depressing finding of the Save the Children Fund in Hungary—desirous, perhaps, Council. of airing my little learning in the matter—whether she derived likely to have a lasting influence. Friendship with a foreigner * May I say,’ he said, * how strongly I believe in the work the Interim Report of the League of Nations Technical brings home sharply the fact that the call to die for one s Mixed Commission on Nutrition, of which Volume I ( is . od. her method from Montcssori or from Frocbel. She replied : of voluntary bodies such as yours ? N o State, no Government, * 1 follow neither slavishly, but 1 take the best from both.’ countrv is also a call to kill.’ however well intentioned and however competent, can cover net) and Volume II (fid. net) have just been issued through Reading Dr. Montessori’s latest book, ‘The Secret of Childhood’ The "adoption of foreign children under the Save the Children the whole area of social needs. It can provide a framework, George Allen and Unwin, Ltd. Two other volumes arc to Fund scheme and the correspondence with them to which this follow, but the appearance of these first two marks an important (Longmans, 7-r. 6d .), one realises once again how fundamental but that must be filled in by the energy o f the individual a part her discoveries and methods have played in the develop opens the door, may be a potent force towards such inter citizen. If any State shouldered the whole burden there would stage in the League’s effort to place at the disposal o f public national and inter-racial friendships. health authorities, sociologists, producers of foodstufls, and ment of that science o f childhood o f which, not forgetting be only two results. First of all, a great deal of the work Rousseau, Frocbel was the pioneer. Kindergarten is a word would be inefficiently done ; and, in the second place, there citizens of every country the important discoveries of science which has fallen somewhat into disuse among the educationists T he Joseph Payne Lectures o f 1955 on Some Aspects would be a very serious loss of responsibility on the part of about the relation between diet and health. Two discoveries of to-day, but Montcssori and, in England, Margaret McMillan of Education in Tropical Africa ’ have been issued as a booklet the individual. A State should undertake tasks cither becausc have revolutionised modem thinking about health and and her followers have done an inestimable service to the bv the Oxford University Press (zs. od. net) and will be of it alone can do them or becausc it can do them best, and not disease : that of the importance of at least nine vitamins, world in transforming life into a real child’s garden for many great interest to the larger audience thus reached. The because various worthy ladies and gentlemen forget that they and in particular the so-called ‘ protective ’ vitamins, to the lecturers were Mr. E. R. j. Hussey, Director of Education, maintenance o f good health ; and that o f the essential con across whose earliest years, without their teaching and their arc citizens. . . . Social service can never be a soulless patient guidance, would have been written the deadly hoc Nigeria ; Mr. H. S. Scott, formerly Director of Education, mechanism, functioning at a great distance from human nection between the healthy growth and functioning of the Kenya ; and Dr. J. J. Willis, formerly Bishop of Uganda. human body and some twelve inorganic mineral elements. est vasta. ‘ The Secret of Childhood ’ is not a text book. It is nature. It must be done by a body of practical men and women addressed *10 all parents and teachers’ and it is written so Thus the authors arc singularly well equipped bv personal who do not forget their humanity, who realise that the people Not merely in the more obvious case of ‘ deficiency diseases ’ experience and observation to deal with their subjects. It is a properly balanced dietary now recognised as the essential vividly and translated (by Barbara Barclay Carter) so admirably with whom they are dealing arc not abstract figures in a that none need pass it by on the assumption that it will be may be said that a sound start has been made in laying the schedule, but interesting, exasperating and lovable human remedy. It has become clear that only as this is maintained foundations of an educational system in each o f the three can good health be assured in the individual who appears to pedantic and pedagogic. Dr. Montcssori is becoming an old woman as years count, and she has given her life to the study Colonics under review, but that many lacunæ still exist. Tffiis issue of Child and Family Welfare is, as usual, an be free from organic disease ; and that the diet of the pregnant Financial restrictions are obviously the major material impedi mother gives the child its start in life, either with a well- of the child ; but she has never remained static, hence she has interesting compendium of the many phases of social work not grown old in the truest sense, and this work exhibits the ment to greater development, but one cannot forbear to feel current in the Dominion of Canada. balanced organism or a handicapped physique. that in some respects more imagination is needed. Economic depression and unemployment have seriously vitality and flexibility of her mind, while it gives the fruits o f her long observation and experience. ‘ T he Refugee Problem ’ is the title of a nineteen-page impaired the ability o f millions to procure a sufficient quantity She is o f course, on the side o f the child. She believes that T he avowed object of the National Society for the article in the September Journal of the Royal Institute of inter of wholesome food. But the crisis did not create this problem : Prevention of Crueltv to Children is * that every child in the national Affairs , which gives a full translation o f the lecture it only emphasised and brought to light a condition tragically adults generally fail to take account of the laws of growth, character, and disposition which belong to the child ; hence, land shall have an endurable life ’. It seems a sufficiently delivered at Chatham House, London, by Maître Rubinstein chronic. In every country the observer finds lowered vitality, under their influence, its mind is thrown into a state of con modest aim—yet how far it is from attainment the latest on March 30 last. The writer reviews the problem and the diminished resistance to disease and deficiency diseases fusion and revolt which expresses itself in those exhibitions annual report of the Society’s unobtrusively efficient work means which have been suggested or adopted for dealing with themselves, even in districts where the standard of living in so inconvenient to the adult—tantrums, sulks, and so forth— makes abundantly clear. It is true that in this, its fifty-second it, none of which has proved satisfactory. Yet, he avers, the other respects does not appear to have been greatly impaired. and in the more serious complexes which may shadow and year, the N.S.P.C.C. is able to record a further reduction in problem is not insoluble. ‘ If we have not obtained any The problem is therefore not merely one o f economic organisa distort the whole of life. How often we tend to overlook the the number of cases in which it has been necessary to prosecute positive results as yet, it is because we have taken the course tion, but also one requiring popular instruction about the offenders, but this is in itself a tribute to the wisdom o f the character and value of available foodstuffs. child’s inherent love of order and to warp it for our own o f trying to eradicate the problem rather than looking for a temporary convenience or because of our carelessness ; how Society’s officers in choosing the ‘ more excellent way of solution .... Here we have more than a million people, The dietary of its people has become a major national apt we are to forget his sense of dignity—as important to dealing with offenders, wherever possible by winning them without protection, without legal nationality, without definite problem for every Government—a problem which will him even in his earliest years as our own amour propre is ever over, of educating them indeed in the neglected arts and status. A plan of action must be formulated which will take require for its solution not merely the application of new to ourselves ; how careless we are to offer that commendation responsibilities of parenthood and guardianship. The Society these facts into account, which will be guided by historical discoveries about the nutritive value of different foods, but is satisfied that parents and others are becoming increasingly precedent, and which, without imposing an intolerable the consideration of national, social, agricultural and economic of, to us, trifling achievement which is so overwhelmingly important to the child ! Dr. Montcssori, in this book, will mindful of their children’s welfare, and that there is less burden upon States, will offer to the refugees a way of escape policies from the point o f view o f national food requirements. wilful cruelty— whether of neglect or of ill-treatment. Governments have been impelled to approach the problem help manv parents and teachers to amend their behaviour, from their difficulties.’ and, because of this, countless children should ' rise up and During the twelve months ended March 51, 1956, the In an attempt to ‘ synthesise in a phrase ’ the essence of the first, through realisation of the serious dangers latent in the Society received 45,658 complaints that children were suffering problem, Maître Rubinstein says it is a question of overcoming present position, secondly, by the promise held out by modern call her blessed ’ in years to come. needlessly, the highest total since the W ar. A large proportion the effects o f * statelessness ’ and he elaborates this point. agricultural methods for the adaptation of foodstuffs to improve of the cases—nearly one-fifth—was brought to the Society s ‘ In 1919 a man addressed my house at school for the * In order to obviate, as far as possible, the effects o f stateless the people’s standard of living and well being. Save the Children Fund,’ says Vivian Ogilvie, who has been notice by parents. This fact is a tribute to the educational work ness it is essential to secure for refugees the following It was recognition o f the gravity and complexity of this teaching for some years in France and Germany, in an article of the inspectors and honorary workers, for as a result o f their conditions : problem for the world that led the League Assembly in 1935 efforts these fathers and mothers knew what to do and from to set on foot this enquiry into the problem o f nutrition in in the New Lira (July August). ‘ We boys gave our shillings (1) Freedom o f movement and choice of residence ; and sixpences. A couple of years earlier people were addres whom to seek advice and help in the interests of their children. (2) Security of residence ; relation both to public health and to economic conditions. 1188] r THE WORLD’S CHILDREN S ep tu m h i , 1936

‘ Das Wif.ner Jugendhilpwf.rk, Jahrbuch, 1935’ THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND The dcsctibcs a wide range of social welfare w ork for the young people o f Vienna, with which the Save the Children Fund has IN THE PRESS links through the ‘ adoption by British subscribers, of Austrian children. Both voluntary and official activities arc IHE THANKS of the Save the Children included in the survey. Vienna,' like many Austrian and Fund arc due to a large number of papers World’s Children German and some Swiss towns, has its Jugendamt—its Office for references to the work during August. o f Youth— which exercises far-reaching supervision and also conducts social work o f its own, the Roman Catholic Church The official organ of the is responsible for great and varied work, and there arc speci fically Jewish agencies, organisations for holiday camps, and many other activities, all of which find a place in this compre Save the C h ild ren Fund hensive record.

T h ere a re many grown men and women about the world and of the Declaration of Geneva to-day whose schoolroom walls were brightened and whose drawing lessons were revolutionised by the work of the child VOL. XVI — October, 1935—September, 1936 pupils of Franz Cizek, o f Vienna. But for the enterprise of the Save the Children Fund in introducing his methods and his pupils’ work to the British public in 1921 it is possible that this now famous technique might not have come to England until years later. Those who have enjoyed the work of Cizek’s pupils and those who, themselves being teachcrs, have adopted his method will welcome a book just issued Declaration of Geneva called ‘ Child Art and Franz Cizek’, by Dr. Wilhelm Viola of the Austrian Junior Red Cross, published in England by Simpkin, Marshall and Co.— though the price (8/. 6d .) seems excessive. The book offers a charming and representative ' the present Declaration of the Rights of the Child collection o f black-and-white and coloured studies, from the nonlj- known a. the • Déclaration of Geneva-, men an familiar fourteen-year-old artist’s * Spring ’ (which, poorly en of all nations, recognising that Mankind owes to tb reproduced, gets a place on the dust cover only) to the at it has to give, declare and accept it s impression of doll-like skipping children (artist’s age, ten) and the marvellous decorative study o f dogs, foxes and fowls (by a fifteen-year-old) which attracted so much attention when they were exhibited at Lord and Lady Noel-Buxton’s London house some year or two ago. Dr. Viola gives a lively account I, T H E C H IL D must Le given tlie means of the development o f Cizek’s technique illustrated by photo requisite for its normal development, hoih graphs. Its essence is, 1 W hy should we dictate to the child what he has to draw ? — W hy shouldn’t the child be allowed THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND materially and spiritually. to express what he feels ? ’ The translation from the German is on the whole competent, but surely ‘ distemper ’, which is Forthcoming Engagements II. TH E CH ILD that is hungry must he frequently used as the description of the medium, should September 11, Friday—Mrs. Margaret Wintringham, vice- fed ; the child th a t is sick must Le nursed; read * tempera ’. chairman o f the Save the Children Fund Emergency Open- the child that is backward must he helped; Air Nurseries Committee, reads paper at British Association Save the Children Fund publications arc beginning to meeting, Blackpool. the delinquent child must he reclaimed; and get into the second-hand market. Last month a reader of T he W orld’s Children spotted copies of Eglantyne Jebb’s September 14, Monday—Miss E. Dora Earthy, of the Save the the orphan and the waif must he sheltered 1 Save the Child ’ and Madame Vajkai’s ‘ Education for Children Fund Child Protection Committee, reads paper at and succoured. Life ’ in a well-known shop not far from Charing Cross Road. British Association meeting, Blackpool. New copies of both these pamphlets may still be bought, by September 24, Thursday—Mr. Fuller speaks at Westcliffe School, I I I . T H E C H I L D must he the first to receive the way, at a shilling each. e. f. Weston-super-Mare. relief in times of distress. October 8, Thursday—Mr. Fuller speaks at Borstal W omen’s Institute. IV. T H E C H IL D must he put in a position GOOD, SOUND October 16, Friday— Mr. Fuller speaks at Huddersfield W omen’s to earn a livelihood and must Le protected SECOND-HAND Luncheon Club. against every form of exploitation.

S t. Christopher School, Letchworth, gave an entertain V TH E CH ILD must Le Lrought up ii CLOTHING ment on behalf of the Save the Children Fund on July 11, the consciousness that its talents must h< when Clifford Bax’s play 1 Old King Cole’ was produced by Urgently Needed Miss Muriel Wigglesworth and performed by Junior School 20 GORDON SQUARE devoted to the service of its fellow-men. LONDON W.C. I Drafted by Eglantyne Jebb. founder of the Save by the Save the Children Fund for T he fundamental principle which underlies the provisions its work at Home and Abroad. of the Declaration of Geneva is that every child should have a the Children Fund, 1923, adopted by the chance, and by this is meant not a chance o f an existence of Fifth Assembly of the League of Nations, as selfish enjoyment, but a chance of fulfilling, through service to the League’s Charter of Child W elfare, 1924, Send to S.C.F., c/o Davies, Turner & Co., 80 The and reaffirmed by the Fifteenth Assembly, 1934. Arches, Queen's Circus, Battersea, London, S.W.II its fellow-men, the object for which the child was bom .— Eglantyne Jebb in ' Save the C h ild '.

Printed and Published by the Weardale Press, Ltd., 20 Cordon Si/uare. London, W/.C.i and Nemiham Street, Bedford, August, 1936. JL For over seventeen years we have been saving children from suffering and helping to raise standards of child care throughout the world THE NEED IS STILL URGENT : HELP US TO CARRY O N

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MAÎTRE J. L. RUBINSTEIN

Reprinted from " International Affairs." Published by the Royal Institute of International Affairs, September-October 19)6. Vol. X V . No. 5.

P r ic e : ONE SHILLING THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS is an unofficial and non-political body, founded in 1920 to encourage and facilitate the scientific study of international questions. THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 1 The Institute, as such, is precluded by its rules from expressing an opinion on any aspect of international affairs. Any opinions By M a ît r e J. L. R u b in s t e in expressed in the papers, discussions, or reviews printed in Inter national Affairs are, therefore, purely individual. T he phenomenon under consideration is not without pre cedent. Every internal struggle has always had its defeated party. After every social or political upheaval men have been forced to leave their country and to become refugees. It needed, however, the triumph of the idea of the totalitarian State to raise the problem to its present unprecedented magnitude. To find an analogous situation it would be necessary to go back to the period of the religious wars, when thousands of men of all sorts and conditions left their country to seek refuge abroad. Tlie Russian emigration presents a particularly striking spec tacle It is a whole nation in miniature : bishops and humble monks ; army commanders of the highest rank and private soldiers ; judges and lawyers ; professors and students ; employers and employees; landowners and peasants ; partisans of the old régime and socialists who had fought against it ; members of the Orthodox Church, Catholics., Protestants, Jews, Russians proper, Ukrainians, Tartars: in short, all elements of the old Russian Empire, numbering some million men, women and children. Add to these some 200,000 Armenians, 20,000 Germans and 4000 German refugees from the Saar, and you have enough refugees to populate a small State. Unfortunately the flow has not yet ceased ; there is reason to expect thousands more refugees from Germany. An exodus on such a scale creates, for the countries into which this human Hood is being poured, a multitude of problems, political, legal, social and humanitarian.

I11 the face of so much distress and misery, the first question that arises is whether it is possible to prevent the occurrence of such a state of affairs. Unfortunately, we have only to consider the cause and we must realise that it cannot be cured by external action. Such action could neither produce the wished-for results nor ensure their permanence. Nothing but the force of public “ International Affairs” is published every two months. opinion in the totalitarian States themselves can induce those Annual Subscription 16/6. Single copies 2/6 (postage 3d.) States to return to a régime more in harmony with the ideas and Chatham Uouse, 10 St. James’s Square, London, S.W .l. Telephone : Whitehall 2233 7l7 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1936] THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 718 customs of civilised nations. Foreign intervention is impotent to bring about such a transformation. General disapprobation enough for a scheme of colonisation ; indeed, such revenue would of the methods of dictatorship and the pressure of world opinion scarcely cover the immediate necessities of the refugees. do certainly accelerate the return to sanity ; but it is a long and In 1934-1935, when the recrudescence of the economic crisis a laborious process. For the moment we must face the facts, roused a wave of xenophobia in Europe, aggravating the condition and look elsewhere for a solution. of the refugees, overseas settlement became a subject of discussion Colonisation, repatriation and naturalisation are some of the among them.' Attention centred particularly on Paraguay. In suggestions. Let us examine each of these suggestions in turn. the autumn of 1935 the International Nansen Office sent a new mission to Paraguay, composed of MM. Ehrenhold, Avxentieff Colonisation.—Historical precedents of the time of the Reforma and Stogoff. Their report was not enthusiastic. tion suggest the idea of colonisation. But times and conditions I do not believe that overseas settlement can solve the prob have changed, and the refugees of to-day are quite different lem. A limited number, only, of refugees possess the natural from the men of the Reformation. No doubt the transplantation aptitudes necessary for success. The operation, were it to be of a homogeneous agricultural community, whose life has been made on a large scale, would require considerable funds, to be spent far from cities and industrial centres, to a country more or obtained only by State contributions. For instance, the trans less similar to their own merely presents financial and technical portation to Paraguay and the initial establishment of a single difficulties, which may be overcome. Such is the case of the family would cost from £150 to £200. Mass settlement is there Assyrians of Iraq, whom the League of Nations wish to establish fore impossible as a practical measure. I do not dispute the in the Ghab region, or of the Armenian peasants settled in Syria fact that a few families could start life afresh as colonists, and I or Erivan. It is a quite different matter, however, to deal with am aware that some refugees, notably Cossacks, are disposed town-dwellers, civil servants, intellectuals, old soldiers worn to make the experiment ; but the settlement of a few hundred refugees does not solve the problem, nor does it in any way alter with fighting in the Great War and the subsequent civil wars, like the Russians, or with traders like the Armenians, or with the position of refugees in general. We must, then, seek an answer elsewhere. industrial workers like the Saar refugees. In so far as Russian refugees are concerned, the results of Repatriation.—Repatriation has also been considered, and attempted colonisation have frequently been discouraging. As early as 1924 a mission, consisting of Colonel Proctor and Pro an experiment was attempted by Dr. Nansen. In 1922 he initiated negotiations with the Soviet Government in the hope fessors Variez and Brunst, conducted investigations in the of obtaining guarantees for the security of repatriated refugees. Argentine Republic, in Brazil, in Paraguay and Uruguay, and He received promises to that effect, and on January 6th, 1923, reported favourably on the possibilities of colonisation. En he dispatched a first batch of 771 refugees from Bulgaria to couraged by the late Albert Thomas, an experiment was made, Novorossisk. This batch was followed by others, consisting of but with mediocre results. From the first there was a lack of Cossacks and soldiers of General Wrangel's army. About 6000 funds. In 1926 Dr. Nansen, High Commissioner of the League refugees in all were dealt with. The attempt failed, and the of Nations for Refugees, proposed that the Governments of the project was abandoned in 1924, the Soviet Government refusing Member States of the League should contribute substantially to grant further authorisations. The refugees, for their part, to a revolving fund, and that the Nansen Passport should be showed distrust and hostility towards the experiment. subject to a special stamp duty. Substantial governmental The reasons for Dr. Nansen’s failure are not peculiar to contributions were never made ; as to the stamp duty, it pro Russia, or to the Russian refugees, but are of general application. duced no more than 67,522.45 Swiss francs in 1933 ; 126,529.25 There were, of course, some refugees who left Russia, carried in 1934, and 327,479.85 in 1935 ; the increase since 1934 is due to along on the outgoing tide, and who would now like to return to the fact that on May 7th, 1934, a law was passed making the stamp their own country ; while there are others whose political opinions duty obligatory in France. Even if the stamp were in general have entirely changed. There is no reason why these people use in all countries, the resulting revenue could never provide should not return to their homes. But they are the exception, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 7 i 9 THE REFUGEE PROBLEM and not the rule. For the large majority of refugees return is of trying to eradicate the problem, rather than of looking for out of the question so long as the régime which drove them into a solution. It is not in Moscow, nor yet in overseas countries, exile is still in force. This is not merely due to the attitude towards that the solution is to be found, but there where the refugees them of the Government of their native country, but also to their themselves are actually living. Here we have more than a million own convictions and feelings. Both antipathy and objections people, without protection, without legal nationality, without are mutual. definite status. A plan of action must be formulated which will Thus, it is wrong to speak, as is sometimes done, of an amnesty take these facts into account, which will be guided by historical for refugees. Indeed, applied to them, the word is quite mis precedent, and which, without imposing an intolerable burden placed. Nothing less than a radical change in the régime can upon States, will offer to the refugees a way of escape from their produce a spontaneous return on a large scale. It would be use difficulties. less, indeed dangerous, to hasten it. Bitter is the bread of exile, If we look at the situation with goodwill and courage, we and no one will eat it when he can return to his own country. shall agree that the course to be pursued is that which liberal Until then, to stimulate even a voluntary movement towards countries have always followed : to organise the right of asylum, repatriation might jeopardise the right of asylum. and to assure the refugees of an undisturbed place in the com munity which has given them shelter. This is not a matter of Naturalisation.—At the Tenth Assembly of the League of philanthropy ; it is a social and juridical question. Nations, in 1929, a quite different solution was suggested : It is true that, at the time of the exodus, material assistance namely, a wholesale naturalisation of refugees. The suggestion played a preponderant part ; and refugees will never forget the was no sooner put forward than it encountered a two-fold obstacle. help given by the British and other Governments—particularly On the one hand, States refused to discuss the possibility of natural those of the Slav countries—or by great organisations such as isation en masse; they objected to conferring the privilege of the International Red Cross Society, the Save the Children Fund, naturalisation on any but those whom they might deem worthy the Save the Children International Union and others. But of it ; while, on the other hand, the refugees displayed a rooted after the initial phase, the catastrophe averted, organised attachment to their own nationality. Further, naturalisation life once more comes into its own ; the refugees settle down to calls for different treatment in different countries ; it presupposes work, they “ dig themselves in ” ; the process of adaptation and a certain degree of assimilation and of affinity. There are, for absorption begins. It remains then to foster and direct this instance, considerable numbers of naturalised Russians in Slav process, and gradually to treat the refugees as " nationals ” in countries, but very few elsewhere. The exceptional case of the so far as that is compatible with their alien status. Armenian refugees in Syria, the greater part of whom are natural It may be objected that this is not a radical solution, and ised, is explained by two facts : firstly, that Syria is a Mandated that it tends to perpetuate the problem. I do not think so. On Territory ; and secondly, that the Armenians, as former subjects the one hand, children born to refugees come, in most countries, of the Ottoman Empire, are accustomed to living under a govern under the jus soli and acquire by law the nationality of the ment of alien race and culture ; they cannot, therefore, be taken country of their birth. Thus the problem is normally confined as a typical case. Naturalisation may be the end, but not the to a single generation. The situation would be liquidated even beginning, of a process of adaptation and assimilation. more rapidly by a radical application of what seems to me to Thus, for the moment, in view of the present attitude of be the only feasible and constructive solution. On the other governments, there is no reason to expect a solution of the hand, the continued refusal of rights and of protection not merely problem by naturalisation. to the refugees, but to their children after them (even though they have become citizens of the country in which they reside) would None of the solutions so far proposed, therefore, has proved be to perpetuate the problem. satisfactory. Must we, then, conclude that the problem is insoluble ? I do not think so. If we have not obtained any Statelessness.—If I wanted to synthétisé in a phrase the essence positive results as yet, it is because we have taken the course of the problem, I would say that it is a question of overcoming > *t THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 721 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1 9 3 6 ] the effects of statelessness, for it is statelessness that is the Think of the first months of exodus : thousands of Russian dominating factor in the situation. refugees in Constantinople, in Gallipoli ; the flood of Armenian All refugees are stateless, whether it be de jure (the refugees in Greece ; and quite recently the arrival in France of Russians and a group of Armenians) or de facto. A series of refugees from Germany and the Saar. Years have passed since decrees, the first of which was promulgated on December 15th, the great exodus of Russian refugees, yet even now their distribu 1921, declares Russian refugees to have forfeited their citizen tion is not adapted to the possibilities offered by various countries. ship. This forfeiture was automatic and complete, and was The answer is not simple, nor is it made easier by the closing effected without intervention or special decision by tribunals or of frontiers. A more liberal policy in this respect would bring other authorities. The situation of the Armenians is different. a speedy improvement. Refugees tend naturally to settle in Many of them were rendered stateless by decrees, similar to that countries offering the most favourable opportunities, and if they of the Soviet Government, others by administrative decisions in were free to choose, they would distribute themselves more specific cases. rationally. German refugees have so far not been subjected to any general To secure freedom of movement and of choice of residence, measure of denationalisation. On September 1st, 1935, German two things are necessary : refugees deprived of citizenship numbered 4137 ; there is every (a) the provision of a substitute for national passports, reason to expect wholesale measures of denationalisation in the (b) a liberal policy in the matter of visas. Thus the position, in strict law, of the various categories of refugees is not uniform. In practice, however, it is identical; The first, only, of these two conditions has been secured. they are repudiated by their country of origin, which turns its The Nansen Certificate was instituted for Russian refugees on back on them and grants them neither admittance nor protection. July 5th, 1922 ; and it has been adopted by fifty-two States. It was extended to Armenian Refugees on May 31st, 1924, and has Their circumstances are conditioned and pervaded by the con been accepted by thirty-nine States; and finally it was granted, sequences of this repudiation, consequences which it is impossible on June 30th, 1928, to Assyrian, Assyro-Chaldean and Turkish entirely to avert. refugees, and in 1935 to Saar refugees. As to German refugees, There are, however, certain remedies which can and should they are furnished with a different document provided by the be applied, failing the application of which the problem will Conference of 1927, which bears the title of “ certificate of identity remain as acute as ever and the constructive solution of which and of travel." I have spoken can never be realised. Thus all these categories of refugees may obtain identity papers In order to obviate, as far as is possible, the effects of state of international validity as a substitute for passports. Theo lessness it is essential to secure for refugees the following condi- retically, these papers may be “ viséd” to allow a refugee to enter a country to which he desires to go, but in practice visas are (1) Freedom of movement and of choice of residence. granted with reluctance, and are invariably refused unless the (2) Security of residence. Nansen Certificate authorises its owner to return to the country (3) Provision of some substitute for national consulates. of original issue. Since June 30th, 1928, several countries have (4) Legal status. incorporated this proviso in the text of the Nansen Certificate. (5) International protection. This authorisation, known as the “ return clause,” makes it slightly easier to obtain a visa. The existing practice in this 1. Freedom of Movement and of Choice of Residence.—I realise respect, however, is most unsatisfactory. the objections which may be raised by the proposal to grant to The numerous recommendations made by the League of refugees freedom of movement and of choice of residence ; yet Nations for a more liberal policy are to a great extent paralysed it is precisely on these lines that we mu&t proceed. What is by the spirit of routine, and the rigidity of the views, of national the cause of the numerous difficulties which in fact exist if it authorities. The question of visas is, and always has been, is not the accidental and haphazard distribution of refugees ? 723 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1936] THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 724

one of the most troublesome to deal with. If the distribution the new country they have been conducted to the frontier and of refugees is completely out of harmony with the economic forced to return to their original country of residence, only to resources of the countries offering asylum, the fault lies with make the same secret clandestine journey another ten or twelve the existing system of visas. times, in the intervals between more or less prolonged periods of imprisonment. This state of things cannot be allowed to 2. Security of Residence.—The constructive solution which continue. I advocate is possible only in so far as the refugee enjoys the In 1932 the Thirteenth Assembly passed a resolution, proposed security necessary for the task of building up a new life for him by Lord Cecil, requesting States not to expel a refugee who has self. Now the refugee lives in constant danger of expulsion : not first obtained a visa from a neighbouring State; similar neither prolonged sojourn nor successful adaptation to his en resolutions have been adopted unanimously by the Assemblies vironment can guarantee him against this disaster. Misunder of 1933, 1934 and 1935. But that has not prevented States standing, delation, unemployment, the fact that the refugee who voted in favour of these resolutions from persisting appears no longer to present sufficient guarantees (thus runs the in their practice of making refugees an article of contraband. actual text of a decree recently issued by a certain neighbouring It is time that a convention should put an end to this abuse. State)—these are sufficient grounds for a warrant of expulsion. A general convention is indispensable because of the fear felt Not only is such a decision arbitrary, but the proceedings by certain States that the abandonment of their former practice leading up to it are secret ; the refugee himself is not aware of would lead to the use of their country as a dumping-ground for the reasons for his expulsion, he is given no opportunity for the expelled refugees of the entire world. explanation or defence. Yet the expulsion of a stateless person is a cruel and shameful thing. There is no such thing as a “ No 3. Quasi-Consular Services.—The third condition of a construc m an ’s land ” between S tates ; it is impossible to leave one w ithout tive solution of the problem is the adoption of a system providing entering another. But to the expelled refugee all frontiers are to a certain extent a substitute for national consulates. Every closed, all territories forbidden ; he is confronted b y two sovereign alien, no matter what his nationality, makes constant use, during wills, that of the State that says “ go ” and that of the State his residence abroad, of his consul or of the authority of his that says “ stay out ” ; he is in an im passe unless the State in country of origin ; whether it be a question of marriage, of in which he resides is willing to accept the facts, and to cancel an heritance, of a commercial contract, he will call upon his consul order which is legally impossible of execution. to obtain the necessary papers relating to the circumstances of Certain States, acknowledging facts, have given up the his birth and family, his connections, his nationality, his employ practice of expelling stateless persons, and in dealing with ment, his professional qualifications, and the like. The refugee dangerous refugees have substituted precautions of an internal cannot obtain such documents either from the authorities at character, such as compulsion to reside in a certain district, home or from a consul, for he has none ; and yet these papers police supervision, etc. In many countries, however, the authori are indispensable, he cannot do without them. ties refuse to recognise the legal position of the expelled refugee. At the Conference of June 28th~30th, 1928, we requested By force or by threats they drive him to enter a neighbouring that, in the case of Russian and Armenian refugees, States State illicitly. Should he refuse to do so, he is arrested, tried, should agree to recognise the validity of papers made out by and condemned to imprisonment ; at the end of his term he is our organisations, provided they were " viséd” by a representative again arrested, tried and condemned ; and that may go on for of the High Commission of the League. France and Belgium an indefinite length of time. The prison cell is his sole refuge. concluded an Agreement to this effect on June 30th, 1928 ; certain I know of cases of refugees who have been condemned ten or other States, including Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, have adopted fifteen times. Some have thus spent more than nine years in the same system, without formal adhesion. prison. I know of other cases where refugees have yielded to German refugees have been less fortunate; in their case no threats and crossed the frontier clandestinely ; after arrest, arrangement such as the Franco-Belgian Agreement has been trial and a term of from three to six months' imprisonment in reached. This, I believe, is due to the position outside the 725 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1936] THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 726 League which the High Commissioner for German refugees has These two texts are separated by more than a century, yet they held up till now. I wish that this gap could be filled, for there is express the same idea. Each country says to the others : " We a real need for such services, proof of which is given by the follow will recognise all the rights of your subjects while they are with ing figures. Papers having the same validity as those issued by us, on condition that you accord the same treatment to our the consulates have been taken out by Russian and Armenian nationals while they are with you.” refugees as follows : 3790 in 1932 ; 4452 in 1933 ; 8729 in 1934 ; This procedure is not merely a bargain. A State begins by and 10,936 in 1935. according to aliens the maximum rights and invites other States The system introduced by the Franco-Belgian Agreement is to do the same. It is only when the invitation is refused that the interesting from another point of view, in that it provides for State limits the rights of nationals of a less generous State. It direct protection by the League of Nations. The representatives is sought to penalise through the medium of its nationals, a of the High Commissioner, and since 1930 of the Secretary- Government which fails to accord equitable status to aliens. General, have in this respect the same powers as foreign consuls The rule of reciprocity is fundamentally a threat of retaliation, and hold an exequatur from France and Belgium. and it is a perfectly fair rule. When it is applied to refugees and stateless persons, however, 4. Legal Status and Exemption from Reciprocity.—Another it is iniquitous, since they cannot be held responsible for the indispensable condition, if the refugee is to start afresh in the acts of the government of their country of origin, nor can that country receiving him, is the grant of an equitable and well- government be struck at through them. It is only just, then, defined legal status. What rights must this status cover? to dispense with the condition of reciprocity, which in their case Simply those which are enjoyed by aliens ; there is no question can never be fulfilled. It is only just to grant them from the of political rights or of privileges specially reserved for nationals. start all the rights which aliens may enjoy in virtue of laws and In the same way we should also exclude such special arrangements conventions. as are sometimes made for specific reasons, whether political, I will give some examples showing the political importance economic or geographical, in favour of aliens from a particular of this question of reciprocity. The following rights, among country, or of the inhabitants of a particular district, to the others, have been called in question where refugees are con exclusion of other aliens. cerned, on the ground of lack of reciprocity : These exceptions apart, however, all the other rights which The right to inherit ; aliens may enjoy should be included in the status of the refugee. The right to be a trustee ; The realisation of this ideal is impeded, unfortunately, by The right to obtain a licence or a patent ; the principle of reciprocity which governs the status of aliens The right to appear as a plaintiff in court ; in Europe. Apart from certain rights, which, while not very The right to be admitted as an indigent refugee into a hospital ; precisely defined, are considered natural and unquestionable, The right to full compensation in cases of accident sustained during other rights are only accorded to aliens on terms of reciprocity. employment. To demonstrate the importance of this rule I will quote two This list could be extended, but it will serve. Another difficulty in establishing the status of refugees arises Article 11 of the Code Napoleon states : from the fact that in many countries the essential elements in “ The alien shall enjoy the same civil rights in France as are or the status of aliens derive not from law, but from treaties and shall be accorded to French subjects by treaties with the State of diplomatic conventions, particularly settlement conventions. which that alien is a national.” Since the refugee has no state to negotiate and conclude con Article 95 of the Constitution of the Polish Republic of May ventions on his behalf, he is deprived of all the rights usually 17th, 1921, states : acquired by these means. It is essential that this state of affairs " Aliens shall, on condition of reciprocity, enjoy rights equal to should be remedied. The only hope of doing so is to promote those of Polish citizens, and shall have the same obligations, excepting a formal convention between States, defining the international those which by law depend on Polish nationality.” status of refugees. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 7 2 7 1936] THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 728 On September 7th, 1927, in the name of the Russian organisa and the governments regarding them as unacceptable were in tions represented on the Advisory Committee of Private Organisa vited to make reservations. By these methods the adoption tions attached to the High Commissioner, I proposed a resolution of the Convention was secured on October 28th, 1933. that a convention of this kind should be concluded under the This Convention does not, indeed, solve the problem of legal auspices of the League. This resolution was adopted and was status. Some of its provisions, notably those dealing with submitted by Dr. Nansen to the Assembly, which instructed him expulsions, employment and education, do not go far enough ; to summon an inter-Governmental Conference to establish the but even so, drawn up as it was with scrupulous care, it was status of refugees. The Conference was held at Geneva on riddled with reservations. Nevertheless, taking it all in all, it June 28th~30th, 1928. It was proposed to draw up a Conven is an instrument of the first importance. It betters the Nansen tion ; but at that moment the majority of States were not inclined Certificate system, it restricts abuses in the practice of expulsion, to contract formal obligations on behalf of the refugees. A and it regulates certain points of private international law. formula was sought which would secure the maximum number Furthermore, it secures for refugees freedom of access to the of votes, and an Arrangement, containing certain recommenda law courts, and the most favourable treatment in respect of tions, was concluded. social relief and assurance and of taxation ; it exempts them from It soon became obvious that, in its actual form, the the rule of reciprocity, it provides for the optional institution of Arrangement was powerless to provide a status for refugees. refugee committees in every country, and it secures certain The recommendations remained inoperative ; they required to modifications of the measures restricting employment. be transformed and translated into law by the States. Such a It is not possible now to enter into details, but the question transformation and translation were unattainable for many of employment is so important that I must devote a few words reasons : to it. The allotment to refugees of a share in the national labour (а) No State will risk taking the initiative without the certainty is fundamentally the best way of solving the problem. Un of being followed by other States. Nothing but a convention signed fortunately, the situation has been seriously complicated by the simultaneously by several States A n give the desired assurance. crisis. Every country has been forced to take restrictive measures (б) Moreover, the kind of law required must deal with the most against the employment of foreign labour ; and recourse has been diverse subjects, and must be prepared in collaboration with a number had to the system of labour permits, which are often given only of governmental departments. Work of this kind is rare in domestic to refugees who can reckon ten consecutive years’ stay in the legislation, while it occurs frequently in the preparation of Conventions. country. Further, a regulation for restriction by quotas was (c) Finally, if a government did find time to introduce such a bill, applied, which forbade employers to engage more than 10, 5 or it would be open to attack ; its intentions would be suspect, its isolated action attributed to political considerations. A Convention avoids 2 per cent, of foreign workmen. these objections. These rules are applied to refugees without any consideration of their peculiar situation. Refugees are treated with greater In 1931 the idea of a convention was revived by M. severity than are other aliens, because, having neither consul de Navailles, President of the Inter-Governmental Advisory to defend them nor treaties to protect them, they are more Committee for Refugees of the Council of the League of Nations. vulnerable, and yet it is they who should receive the more favour This proposal was strongly supported in the Assembly by Lord able treatment, seeing that they are not free to leave the country, Cecil. After laborious preparation, the International Nansen and that they are relatively few in number. Unemployment Office and the Inter-Governmental Advisory Committee together and the refusal of permission to work lead to vagrancy, expulsion drew up a plan which was submitted to the Inter-Governmental and imprisonment, and these are the consequences of the existing Conference of October 26th-28th, 1933. practice. The position is one that must be remedied. And it On this occasion different tactics from those of 1928 were is important that it should not be handled purely from the point employed. There was no attempt to please everybody at the of view of the crisis. cost of sacrificing the text of the plan ; the majority rule was not It is my firm conviction that refugees, all things considered, applied. All provisions supported by several votes were retained, should receive the treatment of nationals in questions of employ- THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 7 2 9 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS [SEPT. 1 9 3 6 ] 730 ment, for the right to work is a natural corollary of the right realities of the situation. To say that it would be like turning of asylum, a truth too often forgotten. wolves into shepherds would perhaps be going too far ; never The Convention of 1933 does not go as far as that. It estab theless here are four objections to such a course : lishes four privileged categories : (a) The laws established for aliens take it for granted that aliens (a) Persons who have been more than three years in residence in are protected by the country to which they belong, and rules are the country ; based on this hypothesis. Certain services are rendered to aliens by (b) persons whose children are nationals ; their national authorities only, the authorities of the country of (c) persons married to a national ; residence possessing neither the competence nor the means to do (d) ex-service men who fought in the Great War. so. Refugees, inasmuch as they are aliens, require an international authority to take the place of their national authority. If this ruling, even, were consistently applied it would be (b) The refugee problem being essentially international, it follows a great step forward. Unfortunately, it is in respect of this logically that only an international authority can deal with it. regulation that governments have made the largest number of (c) No country possesses a central office capable of handling all reservations, which it is hoped will in course of time be with the aspects of the problem of refugees residing on its territory. drawn. The Convention has been signed, up to date, by France, Each administrative service deals with questions that concern itself Belgium, Egypt, Bulgaria, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Denmark alone, and it sees things only from the point of view of its strict com and Italy, and ratified by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Norway, petence. Refugees are in general handed over to the Aliens Depart Italy and Denmark ; its ratification by France and Belgium is ment of the Police Administration, and however excellent this depart ment may be in certain countries, the fact remains that its first business anticipated at an early date. is to protect nationals against undesirable aliens. In view of this, Great Britain has carried out most of the provisions of the the police, it must be said, is in no manner whatsoever qualified to Convention without actually adhering to it. Her adhesion fill towards the refugee the rôle of the protector that his situation would not, therefore, involve any great change in practice ; but demands. from the moral point of view the Convention would gain im (d) If the protection of the refugee is entrusted to some special mensely by the signature of Great Britain, and that, I am con authority of the country of residence, that protection is only of value vinced, would lead many others to follow. For that reason, to the refugee regularly settled in the country and for as long as he therefore, I express the hope that Great Britain may one day— remains there. Thus the question remains open as regards the refugee soon—sign the Convention of October 28th, 1933. who is not yet definitely settled in the country, or whose stay is irregular (those under expulsion order), or who is passing from one country 5. International Protection.—Finally, international protection to another. Now, it is precisely these non-settled refugees who have for the refugee must be assured. The position of the alien the greatest need of protection. Further, the measures taken by the authorities of a country of residence have force only in that country ; depends everywhere largely upon the protection afforded to short of a special convention, these measures have no force on the other him by his own country. The respect and prestige enjoyed by side of the national frontier. a State are reflected in the position of its nationals abroad. A refugee is an alien who has ceased to enjoy the protection of his For all these reasons I hold that the continuous existence country of origin ; and an alien unsupported by any State is of an international organisation to deal with refugees is absolutely always in a position of inferiority. In his relations with the essential. Such an organisation is necessary not only to ensure authorities of the country in which he resides he is in the position their protection, but also to facilitate their rational distribution, of an “ international tramp,” a term formerly applied to stateless to foster their settlement, and to create and preserve for them a persons. just and equitable status. The distribution of refugees accord It is essential that some international authority should be ing to the possibilities offered by the various countries does in appointed to remedy this state of things. The authority must fact call for an international centre concerned with the registra necessarily be international, since to leave the protection of tion of refugees and functioning as an employment bureau in the refugees solely in the hands of the authorities of the country close touch with government departments, employers, trade of residence is to misapprehend the nature of the problem and the unions, transport companies, etc. THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 7 32 7 3 i INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1936] In dealing with the question of status, I have had occasion The second method—the entrusting of the task to a single to describe the part which would be played by an international State—is impracticable. I do not know of any Government centre. It must not be forgotten that a status cannot be achieved willing to assume the responsibility. Even were it possible to find overnight, nor by a single convention. There will always be the such a State, the other States would not tolerate its interference. need for adaptation to changing conditions, and for improvement The third method—that of employing an official organisation— and completion. Nor is the execution of certain agreements— was attempted in 1933, on behalf of the German refugees. It such as the Franco-Belgian one of 1928—possible without the was at first proposed to give them the same protection as was co-operation of an international organism. On the subject of accorded to the Russians and Armenians, but the proposal was protection, I have already said enough. For all these reasons, opposed by the German Government, and the decision was taken the existence of an international centre is the keystone of the to appoint a High Commissioner for German Refugees, but not to building, an essential condition of the solution. accord him the authority of the League of Nations. Experience has shown the inadequacy of this mode of procedure, which was How is this organisation to be brought into being ? Three never anything but a makeshift. Neither the personal qualities methods may be considered. The task might be confided : of Mr. James MacDonald, nor his devotion to the task, could overcome the inherent weakness of a purely official organisation. (1) to the League of Nations, one of whose objects, Such was the position when, in 1935, the Sixteenth Assembly according to the Covenant, is the “ maintenance of the League of Nations was presented by the Norwegian Govern of justice.” ment with a proposal that the work of the League of Nations (2) to a single State, according to practice in war ; or should be centralised and so extended as to include all refugees (3) to an official organisation. and stateless persons. This proposal was really formulated on The first method is justified by experience, which has shown behalf of German refugees, but as it was conceived in very general that, if an organisation is to have the necessary authority, it terms, certain States considered themselves affected, and laborious must be attached as closely as possible to the League of Nations. discussions ensued. Finally, a committee of five experts was It is the method adopted, in the case of the Russian refugees, named and instructed to study afresh the whole refugee problem since 1921, when Dr. Nansen was appointed High Commissioner in all its aspects. Germany was no longer there to maintain of the League of Nations for Refugees. In 1924 his mandate was her opposition—and the injustice done to German refugees was extended to include Armenian refugees, and in 1928 to several redressed. other categories. Although the Experts’ Report has been referred to the After the death of Dr. Nansen in 1930 the functions of the Seventeenth Assembly, which meets in the autumn of this year, High Commissioner were separated ; the humanitarian activities the Council, on January 24th, extended League protection to were confided to the International Nansen Office, under the League’s German refugees as from that date. I sincerely congratulate authority, while the task of assuring political and legal protection the German refugees, for I feel sure that the High Commissioner was remitted to the " regular organs of the League of Nations,” of the League of Nations, Major-General Sir Neill Malcolm— i.e. to the Secretariat. The work of the League of Nations in thanks to his personal authority, enhanced and supported as it this respect has been carried on in various forms to the great is by that of the League of Nations—will be able to secure for advantage of both Russian and Armenian refugees. them the conditions which they deserve. One point only occasions some uneasiness : in 1929, during a I am equally glad for the Russian and Armenian refugees, period of great prosperity, when the work of establishing refugees for the Council, at the same session, appointed as President of seemed to be nearing its end, Dr. Nansen agreed to a time limit the International Nansen Office the former President of the of ten years for the completion of his work ; and when the Inter Court of Appeal of the Mixed Tribunals of Egypt, Judge Michael national Nansen Office was set up in 1930, the League of Nations Hansson, an eminent jurist, possessing vast administrative maintained the ten-year time limit, fixing the liquidation of the experience and inspired by the same ideal of human solidarity Nansen Office for December 31st, 1938. that inspired his illustrious compatriot, the late Dr. Nansen. THE REFUGEE PROBLEM 734 733 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS upon events which cannot be fixed according to the calendar Nevertheless, and while I rejoice in the Council’s decisions, or by their definite settlement, by the slow process of assimilation I am conscious of the menace which threatens the Russian and the duration of which cannot be predicted. Armenian refugees, and which is becoming more and more It is not possible, then, to stick to prophetic dates, fixed definite. In all the wide realm of the League’s activities, refugee ten years ahead; we must take into account what happens work more than anything else should be free from political in the meantime. Now, since 1 9 2 9 , what has happened? In considerations. Unhappily, experience shows that humanitarian 1 9 3 0 came the crisis, upsetting all calculations, calling a halt to activities cannot escape from association with politics. I referred the process of settling the refugees, and paralysing all efforts a moment ago to the attitude of the German Government at the to create a status for them ; it let loose in many countries a Assembly of 1933, a few weeks before it left Geneva. At the wave of xenophobia; it multiplied the number of expulsions, same Assembly another Great Power entered the League of deprived the refugees of employment, and reduced them to a Nations, whose attitude is set forth in a speech by M. Litvinov state of misery. The situation is actually far worse than it was on September 14th, 1935, at the Sixteenth Assembly. Referring in 1 9 2 9 , when it was recognised that it was necessary to carry in this speech to the future of the Nansen Office, M. Litvinov on the work for refugees for another period of ten years. At said that he " would not favour expenditure for the creation no time have the misery and insecurity of the refugees been so of new or the artificial resurrection of dying organs as proposed great ; at no time have suicides been so numerous. The Com by the representative of Norway.” mittee of Experts were well aware of this state of affairs, and Further, in defining the scope of the mandate given to the for that reason their report qualifies the word " liquidation " Committee of Experts, the Council made it very clear that they by the adjective " constructive.” W hat does that mean ? were not to revise the decision to liquidate the Nansen Office The formula is quite vague. Is it intended to confide the on December 31st, 1938. Faithful to their terms of reference, settlement of refugees to private bodies? Is it intended to the Experts propose by a majority to complete the liquidation hand over to governments the task of protecting the refugees, of the Nansen Office by the date fixed. They desire, however, and of guaranteeing a refugee status which, up till now, they that this liquidation should be constructive, and suggest that have not been able to create ? If so, then " constructive liquida certain functions of the Office shall be taken over by the govern tion ” is nothing but an empty verbal formula, signifying in ments, and certain others by private organisations. The black reality the abandonment of the refugees to their fate. spot which appeared on our horizon in 1929 is growing, and is The premature disappearance of the International Nansen rapidly becoming a threatening cloud. Office— an organisation recognised by all Member States of the I must confess that I have never been able to grasp the exact League as possessing a certain right of control as well as a right implication of the term “ liquidation ” as applied to refugee of initiative where refugees are concerned—would be for more work. Were it simply a question of the administrative liquida than a million human beings a real disaster. Whatever the tion of the refugee organisation, it would be easy to under political contingencies of the hour, the League of Nations our stand; the officials would be dismissed, the office closed. That highest international authority, on which so many men and is quite simple. But can the League of Nations, without com women rest their hopes—cannot be responsible for such a be promising itself, effect such a liquidation so long as the refugee trayal. The Assembly will have to decide at its session problem remains unsolved ? For eighteen years it has maintained this year. From now on it must be our task to awaken public costly and complex organisms; then one day, because it is opinion, so that, warned in time, it may avert the imminent December 31st, 1938—it closes the doors of the office and leaves danger, the real menace, impending upon a million refugees. the work unfinished. For my part I believe such a liquidation to be impossible. You cannot liquidate the work without first liquidating the problem. And if it is the pro b lem that we are considering, how can we fix a date in advance for its liquidation ? It cannot be liquidated otherwise than by the return of the refugees to their country of origin—and that return depends So u t h g a t e La b o u r

Secretary :

45 Hoppers Road,

o-nw Uia UJ. a

10th April, 1937.

Sir,

I have been asked to write you requesting that the appropriate authority be urged to re-oonsider the closing of the Nansen Office, which we understand was originally expected to have completed its labours by 1938.

In view of the continuance, and indeed intensification of the refugee problems of recent years, my Party would join with all other bodies and persons pressing for the granting of a longer life' to the Nansen Office.

I am of course urging thi s course upon our own Foreign Office.

Yours faithfully,

Honorary Party Secretary. 20A/7I87/686, 23. APR 1937

Geneva, 22nd April 1937»

I have the honour to acknowledge the reoeint of your letter dated April 10th in which you inform me of the desire of your Party to Join with all other bodies and persona advocating the granting of a longer life to the Nansen Office.

I have not failed to forward a copy_s£ your communication to the Chairman of the QovernlngSf the Nansen International Office for Refugees.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

— -—

For the Deputy Secretary-General In Charge of the Section of International Bureaux.

C.R. Ooodchild, Honorary Party Secretary, Southgate Labour Party, 66 Park Drive, Wlnohmore Hill, London, N. 21».; rÊAGVU- OF N A flü N S RI-GISTRV RÉCEIVÉO r 20A/71R7/686.

Oenbvo, le 22 Avr.il 1937»

Monsieur la Président,

J'ai 1 'honneur de voue faire tenir en annexe

copie d'une oommunior.tion émanant du "Southgate Labour Party" en date du 10 avril.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Président, les

assurances de ma considération très distinguée»

Monsieur Miohael Hansson, Président du Conseil d'Administration de l'Offloe international Nansen pour Ica Réfugiés, 4l Quai «ilson, Genbire

L J International Co-operative Women’s Guild -Internationale genossenschaftliche Frauengilde^j/i Guilde Internationale des Coopératrices

President—Vorsitzende—Presidente Acting Secretary Frau EMMY FREUNDLICH Mrs. THEO NAFTEL Vienna—Vienne—W ien XII. Schonbrunnerstrasse 254 17, Great Prescot Street, Royal 4633 London, E.l

The Secretary General, 25th June 1937. League of Nations, Geneva.

Sir, We have the honour to enclose a Memorandum on Assistance

to Refugees embodying suggestions which we earnestly hope may

receive the consideration of the League of Nations.

Trusting that the League will use all its influence to

"bring about a humane and satisfactory settlement of the problems

at issue and assuring you of the unswerving support of co-op

erative women in this matter,

^ We are,

On behalf of the Committee, International Co-operative Women’s Guild,

.cting Secretary, p r é p a ra cl "by th e ,

INTERNA x TO HAL CO-OPER.' .X W E J.VQMHÛÏ13

for presentation to tho \ »

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. " 1 - ^ '

JU m 1 & 3 3 V

As an International women’s organisation w lw r(TFfiliated national

G uilt s in fourteen countrios and close contacts w ith co-operative wne n's groups in many prts of the world, the International Co-operative

Women’s G uild has v/eloomed and appreciated the excellent work dene by

the Nansen O ffice and the High Commission fo r German Refugees to a lle

viate the lo t of refugees and give them some c iv il status in the

countries in which they reside.

It therefore heard w ith deep regredst that the League of Nations had

confirmed its previous decision as to the dissolution of both the above-

mentioned bodies in December 1938, but drew some consolation from the

fact that they had been instructed by the League to submit proposals fo r

the future international organisation of assistance to refugees,

A ll who know what are the sufferings of women and chilflrenwhen

a fam ily is without any s ecurity of existence and is forced to seek asy

lum in a foreign country must be convinced o f the necessity of awakening

the conscience o f the world so that there may be pe rmanent international

collaboration for the pawls ion of assistance to these unfortunates who

in so many®ses are enduring great economic and moral hardships through

no fa ult of their own. Hie International Co-operative Women’s Guild,

therefore, urged its national members to use a ll their influence and

strive to arouse a public opinion that w ill ensure the ratifica tion by a ll

signatory States of the Convention on the international status of refugees

and the Provisional Arrangement fo r Refugees from Germany drawn up by the

Inter-Governmental Congresses of 1933 and 1936. At the same t ime

the national Guilds were asked to communicate to th e ir rosyeotive

Governments th eir views 68 to what measures they deemed essential In

order that future machinery should be set up to deal with the problems

of in ernatlonal assis tance to refugees. In many European countries ^■-operative women have had personal experience of welfare work among

refugees or know from their contacts with refugee families what kind of help is needed.

The fact that Governments have been asked to forward proposals

for international collaboration as regards assistance to refugees

after the winding up of the Nansen Office and that, moreover, a new

draft Convention for German Refugees has recently been circulated by

the League Secretariat to member States, has impelled the International

Co-operative Women's Guild to make the following suggestions as to what

measures of assistance national and international experience has shown to be most essential.

Nationalisation and Legal S ta tus.

As in mot cases political considerations make it impossible for

refugees to return to their country of origin steps must be taken to

facilitate the acquisition of citizen rights in the country of asylum or residence. Although Nansen passports have been useful in enabling refugees to travel from one country to another in their attempts to start a new life the question of naturalisation and the attainment of full civil rights must necessarily depend on the law in force in indivi dual ccuntries. We would suggest that it might be possible i n t h o case of refugees to shorten the term of residence necessary for naturalisation to a maximum of 9 months, always provided that during that time the re fugee had not proved himself to be an undesirable citizen. Pending such legislation, however, it would seem essential that all refugees should be given certificates valid for a stated period which would entitle them to move freely in the territory of ths country of issue, to obtain employment, to have access to courts of law,and would give them the right to legal assistance and $e rticipation in the social and welfare services provided for the c cmmuni ty.

a is understandable that at a time when there is still much unemploy ment certain States should feel reluctant to admit a stream of immi grants who must obtain employment if they are to live. We feel, however, that this difficulty could be solved by an international agreement under which all signatory countries would undertake to admit a certain percentage of refugees in proportion to their population*

Housing. Although the housing shortage which has become so acute in many

coumbties since the war would make it difficult to lay down definite

rules on this matter there should be general adherence to the

principle that everything possible should be dene to ensure that

refugees should be admitted to public institutions in any locality where they may find themselves .

Education.

This is a question that will materially affect the future welfare of

the children and their usefulness as citizens. Few refugees know

the language of the œ u n t r y where they tove found refuge and this is

especially true of the children. It would therefore seem most necessary

that special schools should be set up in every refugee camp and in all

districts where a large number of refugees are congregated. Here it

should be a question of ensuring that the children do not forget every

thing they have $r eviously learnt rather than of adhering to the curri

culum of the ordinary schools of the i»rticular country,and especial

stress should be lain on teaching them to speak and write tha langpa&e••

aid so faciliate their absorbtion into other schools. Older chili ren

will need a definite course of instruction while the younger ones will

probably best learn the new tongue through games and other recreational

activities. Language classes for adults are also ossential if they

are to be fitted to earn a living and take p rt in the life o f t h e «, mmunity.

Deportation and Reconduction to Frontier of Origin.

We would urge that the articles of the Provisional Arrangement

regarding German Refugees which lay down that political refugees author*

ised to reside in a oountry shdl 1 not be expelled except for reasons tf

national security or public order and that no refugee shall be recon

ducted to his frontier of origin unless he has been warned and has re

fused to take steps to proceed to another country, should not be weak

ened in any future Convention and that, more® er, the same principle should be applied in dealing with all refugees. We would also suggest that a progressive step ac regards the

treatment of political refugees would be made if all States would

adopfc similar measures to those contemplated in Sweden and give the

control of the admission and absofrbtion of refugees to the authori

ties for social administration or Alien's Department, instead of leaving it, as is now the general rule, to the local police.

In the above short summary of what seem to us the most vital

points to be considered we have tried to show the importance of an

international settlement. We would also like to stress, however, that

in our view refugees constitute a far greater danger to any country

both as regards general considerations and the question of employment

when no organised system of international assistance exists. Mere

money donations towards their support will not in any way solve the

problems at issue. Such a system, hcwever, can only be built up

througi the League of Nations as the only institution with the power

of initiating activities in common among the nations and determining

from the experte nee ,which, unfortunately,so many counties have gained

during the last 20 years, what are the mes t effective methods of organising assistance to refugees.

As mothers and citizens co-operative women wholeheartedly support

the setting up of new and po m m a n t machinery to deal with all the pro

blem. connected with tt. settlement and help of refugees and calls

upon the League Nations to ensure that su eh an International organi-

satlon is brought Into being in 1938 when the whole question will be

considered by the Assembly. Such an organisation should not merely

function aa a Central Bureau but must be a real association of nations whs re all will take their share of responsibility in this great humani

tarian worn .which should not be hampered by any political considerations.

The necessary funds will be more easily collected and the claims on individual nations will not be ao onerous if every state will take over and carry out definite responsibilities so that only the central body would need to be financed by the League.

We feel assured that this question, like so many other international iroblems.can be settled satisfactorily provided all states are Inspired by a common ideal , and are convinced that action on the lines suggested would win warm support from the general public in the majority of countries. On Behalf ofthe Committee, InternatIona1 Co-operative Women's Guild

Thoo Naftel. Emmy Freundlich. Acting Secretary. President» Projet de lettre

Dear Madam, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 25th 1937, enclosing a memorandum embodying suggestions relating to the Assistance or Refugees. Tour oommunloatlotfijtTïl 6 ejbroug»t to the notice of ths League of Nations 1 ^ ^ nmiminlnatnfl'* of thl Counoil/at Its next ordinary session, 1and oommun-leated to the Chairman of the Governing Body of the Nansen Interna

tional Office for Refugeea. I have the honour to be, Madam, Your obedient Servant,

Secretary Gjareral ^ctlLuk.

Mias Emmy Freundlioh, President of the International Co-operative Women's Guild Sohonbrunneretrasse 254 VIENNA n r S ' c^ ’~' -Q d X X t- Q j k ~ cXLeftT/Uru**-

<^JlJr**~ÿLA s yr°-^r"^/

Ugu-» cxj— V>s-v-_ °0^ Ipck^iJ 1^0 tü oU "^»— P^V. fcieN,; ivvCA. ^— "C-a-'O e<->- -Ccx &XC^«- À 'C'ÀmXjuuI,. 4

2oa/ 71^7/686 •1. JULY 1 ^ 7 !

Geneva, June 3 0 th, 1937

Detr Madam,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your

letter, dated JUne 25th, I937» enclosing e memorandum embodying

suggestions relating to the , s&iotance of Refugees.

Tour communication will be menyioned on the List of

Communications from non-offiolal International organisations

which will be brought to the notice of the Council of the League

of Nations at its next ordinary session. It will also be trans

mitted to the Chairman of the Governing Body of the Nansen In ternational Office of Refugees.

I have the honour to be,

Madam,

Your obedient Servant,

for the Deputy Secretary-General in charge of the Intellectual Co-operation Section and International Bureaux,

Mias Kramy J’reundllch, President of the International Co-operative omen's Guild Sohtibrunnerstrasse 254 VIENNA 20A/7187/686

Genève, le 30 Juin 1937

Monsieur le Président,

J ’ai l’honneur de vous faire tenir en

annexe oopie d ’une oommunioetion de la Gàllde internationale

des Coopératrioes. En sa qualité de 00mmunioation émanant

d'une organisation internationale elle sera portée à la con

naissance du Conseil de la Société des Nations à sa prochaine

session ordinaire. Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Président,

l’assurance de ma haute considération.

Monsieur Miohd. Hansson, Président du Conseil d ’administrâtion de l’Office international Nansen pour les Réfugié?, 41; quai Wilson GENEVE - F ^ 20A/7I87/686.

SECTION CENTRALE. •

La Section suggère le texte suivant à Insérer dans la liste des communications d'organisations privées transmises au Conseils

/ OulJ.de Internationale des Coopératrloes - Date, '’le Juin 1937 - transmet un mémoire relatif à 1 'amélioration de la protection des réfugiés et à l'avenir de l'oeuvre de leur assistance Internationale.

Le septembre 1937» ^

^ . ïsJU -M k

V ^ Q J w a J( W ereld bo n d der kerken AFD. NEDERLAND DE BUT • 19. ^7 - Sec™tarls:Dr.J.C.WISSING “ •Uloon 28500 h W. An d " in Genf.

Hochverelirter Herr Generalsekretar, Im^Hamen und Auftrag der nieder- ihen Abteilung des Weltbundes fur internationale Frèundsghafts- arbeift der Kirohen ha ben :ir die Ehre Ihnen ein Memorandum zu ül) er se ji den, welches in ler^Sitaung des Bxekutiv-Komitees der europa- ischen Zentralstelle fur kirchliche Hilfsakt.ionen in Cambridge angenoramen und eror cert wurde. Unsere Abteilung hat gemémt, dieses Memorandum it a vollen Urnfang annehmen und Hirer Aufmerksamkeit unterbreiter, ... hand el t sich hier urn eine Angelegenheit, welche das internationale Gewissen angeht und um einen Aufruf, der hoffuntlich nicht ungehort verhallen vzird.

Izo Auftrag der jiierlerlandisohen Abteilung d e s e rwahnt en T» c 1 tbund e s :

< f!hr^vL . ~, .

Sehretar. Mémorandum conoemir^: the maintenance of an Office for Refugees_ connected with the Leatiue of Nations,_ n- X). The magnitude of the problem of Refugees and Apatrides is already 60 pressing and likely to become more so in the coming years, that it deserves the closest attention of the whole civilised world. The refugee uroblem is not simply one of material relief, but is an exponent of a xa. fundamental change in the social structure of mankind, especially on the European Continent. It presents an economic, a political, a psychological, an educational as well as a religious aspect so that it must awake interest likewise for governments and for Chur dies. 2). Private agencies, relief organisations, Churches or similar private bodies are by far not strong enough to cope with a problem of such magnitude. The burden which would fall on their shoulders, if the reliei organisations of the League of Nations would cease to exist, would simply be unbearable, and a situation would result, which would be catastrophic. 3). The jobless and discontented army of Refugees and Apatrides scattered over the whole Continent will rapidly become a hotbed of hatred, crime and revolutionary movements, if State and Society do not attempt a supreme effort to solve a problem for which concerte'! action is indispensable. 4). Hie Churches have already proved by their relief activity in favour of refugees from Russia, Germany and other Continental countries as well as for the Armenian and Assyrian refugees that they are prepared to ta*ce a share ir. this task, and that they are facing it in its social, moral and religious aspect. 5). The Dutch Council of World-Alliance for promoting Friendship through the Churches submits to the General Secretary of the League of ITatipng. the respectful request to bring the desire of the religious forces of the world before the responsible bodies of the League tc the effect that the utmost effort should be made to maintain the existing Relief Agencies of the League or connected with it, or to create such a new agency fitted to meet the situation of the Refugees and Apatrides on the Continent. The Churches are invited simultaneously to approach their respective national governments with the view to obtain the support of their delegations to the League of dations for such a proposition whose realisation would stress the usefulness and efficiency of the League in the sphere of common constructive social and humanitarian tasks of the first magnitude. 20A/7I87/686 c,

Oonèvo, lo 27 septembre 1 9 3 7'

Monsieur le Secrétaire,

J'ai 1 1 honneur d 1accuser réoeptlon de votre lettre en date du 22 oeptembre 1937» par laquelle vous m'avez transmis un mémoire émanant du Comité exécutif de l'Offloe central européen pour l'Entr'alde des Eglises, relatif h l'avenir de l'oeuvre internationale d'assistance aux réfugiés entreprise: sous les auspices de la Société des Nations. 2. Je n'ai pas manqué de transmettre cette communication au président du Conseil d'Administration de l'Office Nansen ainsi qu'au Haut-Comm'ssalre pour les Réfugiés d'Allemagne. Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Secrétaire, 1 1 assurance de ma haute considération.

Pour le Secrétaire général adjoint, Chargé de la Section de Coopération Intellectuelle et dos Bureaux interna tionaux,

Monsieur le Secrétaire, Wereldbond der Kerken, adf.Nederland De Bllt (Pays-Bas) 20A/7I87/686

Oenbve, le 27 septembre 1937

Monsieur le Président,

J'ai 1 1honneur de vous transmettre en annexe oople d'un mémoire émanant du Comité exécutif de l'Office central européen pour 1 1Rntr1 aide des Eglises, qui a été adressé au Secrétaire général par le V/ereldbond der Kerken Afd. Nederland.

Veuillez agrSer, Monsieur le Président, les assurances de ma haute considération.

Pour le Secrétaire général

Chargé de la Section de Coopération ln'ellectuelle et des Bureaux Internationaux,

U _ > -

Monsleur le Président du Conseil d'Administration de l'Office International Nansen pour les Réfugiés, GENEVE ZvA/jrtj/ù'i é- Women’s International League

BRITISH SECTION OF THE WOMENS INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM

Hon■ Treasurer: H oii■ Secretary : Mrs. M cG regor Wood. Mrs. K. K. Innbs. Committee : Mrs. Savaob. Miss Mosa Anderson. Mrs. Greenwood. Mrs. Paul Sturgk. Miss Karlben Baker. Miss Agatha Harrison Mrs. Thornycroft. ran : Mrs. Duncan Harris. ] Mrs. Binyon. Mrs. K^aft. Miss Dora Warner. Mrs. Brayshaw. Mrs. Lankestkii., Miss Mary Chick. . ■' 'MfS. LONGSON. Miss Edith Pyb Miss C- E, Marshall. Miss Mary Sheepshanks Dr. Hilda Clark. , Miss Maud Dickinso^ - Miss-\V. Q. Kinder. Mrs. Thoday. etary: Miss Kaklbbn Bakbr, B.Sc. >v : r- o . / \ d Telegraphic Address : Museum 3'W^ Office Secretary : Miss E. H o rs c r o ft, ' INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, Inquiries : •55 GOWER STREET, LONDON, W.C.1.

21st Maroh, 1938. Miss Vera Brittain.

Mrs. i>B Bunsen.

The Hon. Mrs. Franklin. Monsieur Avenol, Mrs. E. Pbtiiick I.awrbnck Secretary-General, League of Nations, Lady UNWIN. Geneva, SWITZERLAND.

Mrs. Basil Williams.

Dr. Ethel Williams. J.P Dear Sir, I have been instructed to send you,

for your information, a copy of a resolution

on Refugees which was passed last week at the

Annual Council Meeting of the Women’s Interna

tional League. Yours faithfully,

Office Secretary. WOMEN'S IHTKRNATIONAL LHAOUli 55, Gower Street, London, N.C. 1.

Resolution adopted by the Annual Counoil. af the International League, held at îriends Ho^e, ÿ»toil Road, N«W« 1. from March 15th to 17th (Inclusive) 1938.

REFUGEES. \ /■"' This Annual Counoil of the Women’s International LeaeUoonsiders that the bringing to an end of the human itarian work for refugees now being oarried on under the auspices of the League of Nations would be J not only to the refugees themselves but to the whole con ception of international co-operation upon which world peace must eventually depend; acknowledge* with thankfulness the position taken by H.M. Government on the refugee question and asks them to maintain their support of the X ? - S s Nations, under single direction, of all refugees, urges H.M. Government to be more liberal in applying at home the principles which it has supported at Geneva, to allow the entry and residence of a large number °* M f S e ” from political, racial, or religious persecution; to make it possible for them to earn their living and to share the privileges enjoyed by citizens of Great Britain. r - » "i ,-ge.o : „ ^ -■’yw./7iB7/6a6 V

Oem v a , 23rd i roh I93&»

De: r Madam, I am directed by the Seoretnry Oencr.l to . o' nowledpe the receipt 'if your letter dated Maroh 21st by «vhlch you transmit,ted the cony of a renolutlon on refugees leetlng of t 1 ’ it rna- t? , 1 Lra;ne for Peace and Freedom which was held In London from March 15th to 17th, 1938.

I have not f-lled to forward a cony of this document to the Chairman of the Governing Body of the N-msen

Yours faithfully,

Çyj/—M>A>J2LAyv^

: i E. Horr,croft, Intorn-t' on;-'! Hr>une, W o m e n 1 a Intern t.Vmv 1 L: af?ie, , l i ft

-Genève, le 23 mars 1938.

Monsieur le Président,

J'ai 11 honneur de vox:3 transmettre, en annexe co le d'une résolution adontdr par la Lir;ue internationale des Femmes pour la Paix et la Liberté, lors do 1 a r-'cente i ( 1, s1 est tenue du 15 au 17 mars 1938, h Londres.

Veuilles,agréer, Monsieur le Président, les as su— r'-oicoB dp ma oonrlf-.-ratl on distinguée.

lîop.nieur î.îichael H 1 n s son, Président du Conseil d'Administration, Réfugiés, G-enëve ftBrbiinbot, tom orunbobct. I betember 1018, nn|!8t fig 11121 till -3ntetmiHoiiaI ffelloroaljlp of Metonclllolioti",

Rbtbunbclt. orbfOrnnbc: leol. Dottor illntmwl «cotoro, $|ur»hoIm. Tel. Siurobolm (IS3. Sftrclcrorr: .«nrtoberbo Sam. Ihnsell, ‘llorrtepnifl.1*1. Iforvroi'iiifl.1.07, och M tcii Cblin 'I'ouli, Sirtnaiirbcn, otoctbolm. Id . ' flossafbrualtare: Srofcn Sinuc '«llmnmel.un,,,.,list qilRrhnOTBrbi), fifnrfeiinh.etocfoimb. I . d . StoctounbJ 2'nrn och «p. no tibnin^enen "fliiilot"Hrillct Snmhr3mnhnll»Iio": flnrlberflavngcn Hli "B, otoctholm. ostflirofonio

Stockholm dsia April 12,19 38 Karlbergsvâgen ' A. Sweden.

The General Secretary of the League of Mr Joseph Avenol Geneva,

Bear Sir,

ïhe Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation, national branch of the International F.O.R., is '-lad to know that the Council of the League of Mations has appointed a commission with the charpe of pre- paring a plan for a new refugees office of the League. We hope that this initiative of the Council v/ill open a new era of the dealing with the international exile problem. It seems to us essential that this office get an authority strong enough to lrt it help the refugees morally, legally and financially. We also feel it necessary that the new office be authorized to take care of all poli tical refugees not only the German ones but also those from Austria, Italy, Hungary, Spain, Roumania, Bulgaria, ChekoSlovakia, Jugoslavia, Greece, Poland, Balticum, Potugal, Abessinia, Brasil and other South er Middle-American states, as well as the categories of refugees which hitherto were entrusted to the Nansen bureau. Trusting that our opinion in these points corresponds to yours ft b r b ii n bo t f&r Striftet S a m I) 8II s 11 o

tfBrbiinbot, iom qnmbabce i bcccmbcr 11118, onflBI |lfl 11121 HU "3nternattonol ffellorooDIp of ««onclllotloit',

RBrlmnbets otbJSronbc: 2ool. Bûtlor'JJalnnocl ^cororo, ^.robojm. ^cLEiutobolia !m:i. ocfrctcrnre: ftnttobcrbo Sol». ThnocTI, 'Jiottioplnfl. Tel. lïïorrfopuHiMW, or!) 3r3(cn Œbbn Tauli, W aanrbcn, istocthotm. let. .«neonibnintlnre: itrBten Siflnc îHmqwst. 3J16rbn, Stocfoimb. let. Stoeteimb 421.. iPnrii orb «p. an libninncn "flrillet SamboHelio": Slorlbcrçiooôooii Ni «, Stoctbolm. let. HNonn. iioMiiirofonto 12iWi.

Stockholm den

and hoping that the Commission may be able to get these principles accepted by the League of Nations, we are dear Sir,

very respectfully yours the Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation Ïjx Kristst Samliüllsliï

J 20A/7I87/686r

Geneva, I4th April 1938.

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the letter dated April I2th 1938, addressed to the Secretnry- Oeneral In which you communicate the views of the Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation concerning thA future of the International Assistance to Refugees under the auspices of the League of Nations. As regards the Council Committee for Refugee questions to which you refer In your communication, may I draw your attention to the fact that this Committee, according to the terms of Its mandate, Is only concerned with the drawing VP of a piun of assistance for those categories of refugees which are placed at present under the protection of the League of Nations. Yours faithfully,

Dr. Natanael Beskow, Chairman, The Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation, Karlbergevagen 86 A Stockholm (Sweden) BC/WF

■ ■III '(LloaPHlom : NAN5EN0FFICE GENÈVE Téléphone :

0 t ireC INTERNATIONAL "|a >I^ÜN . OF NANSEN INTERNATIONAL OFFICE POUR LES RÉFUGI FOR REFUGEES

Sous l’autorité de læ Under the authority of the SOCIÉTÉ DES NATIONS LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Réf. No A/81335/17460 le 9 mai 1938

Monsieur le Secrétaire général,

Ci-joint j’ai 1* honneur de vous communiquer la

traduction de la lettre du Président du Comité de protec

tion des émigrés russes en Pologne, contenant la résolution

prise à la session pleinière dudit Comité le 4 mai courant.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Secrétaire général,

1*assurance de ma haute considération.

Président du Conseil d1administration.

Monsieur le Secrétaire général de la Société des Nations, GENEVE. Traduction du rM.S-5£ •

r.KTThb au L1H ' i r RECEIVED i » ai l 'honneur de porter à votre connaissance la réso- n pIQMAY10. MAY 131333^ 33 | lu : A on suivante cui a été prise en date du 4 mai courant, par membres de la séance plénière du Comité de Protection des

-, russes en Pologne : A la suite de mon rapport sur L'activité de l'office international Nansen pour les Réfugiés 1. La séance plénière des membres au Comité de Protection des Emigrés russes en Pologne exprime à l’Office internatio nal Nansen auprès de la Société des Nations sa profonde re connaissance pour la façon consciencieuse dont il examine toutes les requêtes présentées par ce Comité, et particulière).; ment pour l'avance consentie à la Société le Crédit "Kredruss" grâce à laquelle cette Société a été à même d'ac corder une assistance financière considérable aux émigrés

russes en Pologne. 31 déc H . Prenant en considération la liquidation prévue/ de l'Office international Nansen auprès de la Société des Na- I tions, les membres de la séance plénière croient de Leur de voir de faire la déclaration suivante : Le Comité de Protection, qui existe déjà depuisplus de 16 ans et de ce fait est bien au courant de lasituation | et des besoins de Immigration russe, et pu: est depuis de j l'Office inter- nombreuses années en relations suivies avec reconnaî t eue national Nansen et sa Délégation en Pologne la continuation de l'activité de cet officee comme organisa- I lion d'assistance et de défense des ré és sur une échelle internationale, est absolument Indispensable, et eue la ces sation de cette activité aurait une répercussion préjudi ciable sur la situation de Immigration russe.

La séance plénière accueille avec empressement l'ac tivité énergique du Président de l'Office International Han sen, a. üichael Haisson, visant la continuation do I'exis tence de l'Office, et lui envole ses meilleurs souhaits de

olein succès dans ce but. La séance plénière m'a chargé de vous prier de porter ternational cette résolution à la connaissance de l'O J f

20A/7I87/686. 1 Vi/tV "I ,' ÿJ :

--■ewièvei 18 Uni I938.

r •

Monsieur le Président,

J'ai l'honneur d'accuser réception de la lettre datée du 9 Mal 1938» adressée au Secrétaire général, par laquelle vous lui-avez transmis une traduction d'une lettre du Président du Comité des Emigrés russes en Pologne, contenant une résolu tion adoptée à. la session plénlère du dit Comité le 4 mal courant ayant trait à l'activité de l'Office et k 1 'utilité de mainte nir l'oeuvre d'assistance Internationale aux réfugiés.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Président, l'assurance de ma haute considération.

Monsieur M. Hansson, Président du Conseil d'Administration de l'Office International Nansen pour les Réfugiés, Genève. to,1 @J ^/g-j JHE NATIONAL /

S ir, I am directed by r^y Council to forward for PROF. JULIAN HUXLBY STORM JAMESON your information the attached copy of a reaolution DR. IVOR JENNINGS passed a t a meeting; held a t the House of Commons HARCOURT JOHNSTONE on the 15th inst., dealing with the Right of EARL OF KINNOULL Asylum for refugees, and I am to ask th a t you w ill GEORGE LANSBURY, M.P. PROF. HAROLD LASKI give sympathetic consideration to the recommendations contained in the resolution. LORD MARLEY KINGSLEY MARTIN MAJOR J. MILNER, M.P. Yours faithfully, G. R. MITCHISON PROF. RAMSAY MUIR COL. H. L. NATHAN, D.L., M. LORD PARMOOR F. W. PETHICK-LAWRENCE, M LORD PONSONBY J. B. PRIESTLEY ELEANOR RATH BONE, M.P. S ecretery. VISCOUNTESS RHONDDA DR. A. MAUDE ROYDEN BERTRAND RUSSELL EVELYN SHARP CANON H. R. L. SHEPPARD HANNEN SWAPPER PROF. R. H. TAWNBY DAME SYBIL THORNDIKE

REBECCA WEST H. GRAHAM WHITE, M.P. AMABEL W1LLIAMS-BLLIS Northern Ireland : PROF. R. M. HENRY PROF. A. MACBEATH -THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR i President : H enry W. N evinson ILK Past-President : TELEGRAMS : E. M. F orster MORLEY HOUSE, 320 REGENT ST., LONDON, W.i LANGHAM 4388 Vice-Presidents : LONDON PROF. LASCBLLBS ABERCROMBIE Secretary : Ronald Kidd MRS. M. CORBETT ASHBY Assistant Secretary : Sylvia Crowthbr-Smith, HARRISON BARROW B.A. GERALD BARRY Hon. Treasurer : Hugh Franklin VERNON BARTLETT REV. A. D. BELUEN PROF. NORMAN BENTWICH RIGHT OF ASÏLUM ANBURIN BBVAN, M.P. PROF. P. M. S. BLACKETT RUTLAND BOUGHTON VERA BRITTAIN DEAN OF CANTERBURY A RESOLUTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AT PROF. O. B. O. CATLIN 1J3BTINC- HBLD AT ŒHB HOUSE OF C0LM0N3 01 A. J. CUMMINGS JUNE 15 th, 1938. HAVELOCK ELLIS LORD FARINODON DINCLB FOOT, M.P. B. M. FORSTER VICTOR GOLLANCZ DR. G. P. GOOCH A. P. HERBERT, M.P. ALDOUS HUXLEY This nee ting of representatives of organisations PROF. JULIAN HUXLEY STORM JAMESON DR. IVOR JENNINGS concerned to ensure the right of asylum for HARCOURT JOHNSTONE EARL OF KINNOULL refugees, having considered the present unhappy GEORGE LANSBURY, M.P. PROF. HAROLD LASKI position of many thousands of persons who, for their

LORD MARLEY KINGSLEY MARTIN defence of the principles of "Jestem civilisation or MAJOR J. MILNER, M.P. O. R. MITCHISON on account of their racial origin or religious beliefs, PROF. RAMSAY MUIR COL. H. L. NATHAN, D.L., M LORD PARMOOR have been driven into exile, and believing that F. W. PBTHICK-LAWRENCE, It LORD PONSONBY J. B. PRIESTLEY adequate measures for the protection of refugees are D. N. PRITT, K.C., M.P. ELEANOR RATHBONE, M.P. urgently necessary, c a lls on the Government of th is VISCOUNTESS RHONDDA DR. A. MAUDE ROYDBN BERTRAND RUSSELL country to ratify at once and give immediate application EVELYN SHARP HANNEN SWAFFER PROF. R. H. TAWNEY to the League of Nations Convention concerning the status DAME SYBIL THORNDIKE of refugees coming from Germany to the f u ll e s t possible REBECCA WEST H. GRAHAM WHITE, M.P. AMABEL WILLIAMS-ELLI8 extent, to uphold the traditions of British democracy Northern Ireland : PROF. R. M. HENRY PROF. A. MACBEATH by concrete support of the appeal of President Roosevelt for international co-operation and by presentinc; to the

Evian Conference a national and imperial policy for the

settles it of refugees. NATIONAL COJNCIL FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

Morloy Houso, 320, Regent S t.,

- At a meeting to donl w ith the Right of‘A6ylum cenvenod by th e Council a t the House of Commons on June 15th, 1938, the following persons attended either in a private or a representative capacity:

In the Cteir: Profest • Norman Bontwioh.

ORGANISATION REPRESENTATIVE

A ustrian S elf Aid

Board of Deputies of B ritis h Jews Mr. A.G. Brotman

Catholic Refugees Committee Mrs. M, Beer.

Centre de Liaison des Comités pour le S ta tu t des Immigres M. Emile Bureau.

Church of England C-immittee fo r "Non Aryan" Chri et ian s. Canon Ccatloy Y/hite, D.

Co-ordinating Committee fo r Refugees Mrs. Mary Ormorod.

For Intelloctual Liberty Prof. J.D . Bernal Miss Margaret Gardiner.

Haldane Sooioty

Inter-A id Committee for Children from Germary

Miss J.M. Thomas

International Student Sorvioe Miss Bertha Woodall

(continued) r

ORGANISATION REPRESENTATIVE

Kulturkampf Association Mr. * Mrs Erwin K raft.

labour Research Department Miss Heinomann

Miss 0. Lieben

D r. F . Demuth»

Oxfor® Thursday Club Mr. L. Raphael (üniv. C o ll.)

R elief Committee fo r Victims of Fascism Mrs. Brown.

Six Point Group Miss Juanita Frances Miss M.L.Graham Miss Monioa Whately, L.C.C. Miss Maitland.

Society of Friends Miss Bertha Braoey Mr. P.D. Sturge

Mr. & Mrs C terles Roden Buxton. Miss Eleanor Ratnbor.e, M.P.

Dr. Stella Churchill.

Mr. S.O. Davies, M.P. S ir John Hope-Simpson, K.B.E., C .I.E ., (D irector of the Refugee Survey, - Mr, Edgar DVschineky Royal Institute of International A ffa irs .) Mr. B. Binford Hole Col. Josiah Wedgwood, M.P. Mr, E.D.Hunt, Miss Anne Wilkinson. Mr. John Jagger, M.P.

Mr. Neil Lawson

Miss McAdam.

Mr, Geoffrey le M. Mander, M.P,

P rof. Alfred Meusel

Miss B, Hjrnatt. RONALD KIDD,

Secretary. r i 20A/7I87/686. Tour Ref: ROA-RK/JW

Geneva, 23rd June 1938»

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated June 20th 1938, addressed to the Secretary-General, by which you transmitted copy of a reeolutlon passed at a meeting held at the Houoe of Commons on the I^th Inst,, dealing with the Right of Asylum for Refugees.

I have the honour to be, Sir, - ' Your obedient 3ervantt

G.n.F. ABRAHAM

Actlng-Director of the Section of Intellectual Co-operation and International Bureaux.

V"'

Ronald Kidd Esq. Beoretary, The National Council for Civil Liberties, Morley House, 320 Regent St., London, W. I. 20A/7IB7/686

Geneva, 23rd June 1938-

Dear Sir Neill,

I transmit herewith for your Information copy of resolution on the Right of Asylum for Refugees which was oassed at a meeting held at the House of Commons on June I5th. It has been forwarded to the Secretariat by the National Council for Civil Liberties.

Believe me,

Yours sincerely,

R E C E t V — r ÿ . JUNE 1933 |

MaJ. Gen. Sir Neill Malcolm, K.C.B. D.S.O. High Commissioner of the League of Nations for Refugees (Jewish and other) coming from Germany 16, Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C. 2. 20A/7I87/686

Oenëve, le 23 Juin 193®* A

Monsieur le Président,

jifxi 1 «honneur de voua transmettre en annexe la copie d'une résolution adoptée dans une réunion qui s'est tenue aux Communes le 15 Juin dernier et qui se réfbre au droit d'asile pour les réfugiés. Cette réso lution a été communiquée au Secrétariat par le "National Council for Civil Liberties" de Londres. Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Président, les assu rances de ma considération très distinguée.

Monsieur Michael Hansson, Président au Conseil d'Administration de l'Office international Nansen pour les Réfugiés, Qenfeve. » . / -) I S. "7 I é’

• -FICE INTERNATIONAL NANSEN NANSEN INTERNATIONAL OFFICE POUR LES RÉFUGIÉS FOR REFUGEES

MH/JG Sous l'autorité de la Under the authority of r SOCIÉTÉ DES NATIONS LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Q ENÈvt , le 24 juin 1938.

Cher Monsieur Kallmann, I------

J ’ai l’honneur de vous accuser réception de

votre lettre du 23 courant par laquelle vous voulez bien

me remettre copie d’une résolution se référant au droit

d ’asile pour les réfugiés, adoptée dans une réunion qui

s’est tenue aux Communes le 15 juin et qui a été communiquée

au Secrétariat par le "National Council for Civil Liberties"

à Londres.

Avec tous mes remerciements, veuillez agréer,

cher Monsieur Kullmann, l ’assurance de mes sentiments les

meilleurs.

Monsieur G.G. KOLLMANN, Société des Nations, GENEVE. jo* / / s y , ge-6

TELEPHONE : VICTORIA 0288 TELEORAMS: VOCORAJTO, LONDON

International a l l ia n c e o f w o m e n f o r S u f f r a g e a n d E q u a l citizenship A l l ia n c e Internationale p o u r le S u f f r a g e et l 'A c t io n C iv iq ue et P o litiq u e d e s F e m m e s W e l t b u n d f u r F rauenstimmrecht u n d S taatsbürgerlicheT F rauenarbeit President : MRS. CORBETT A8HBY, 83, Upper Richmond Road, London, I P int Vice-President, GERMAINE MALATBRRR-SELLIBR (France). embers: MILRNA ATANATSKOVITOH (Jugoslavia), MARGUERETE Second Vice-President : FRANTISKA PLAMINK0VA (Bohemia). BOIimmH (Norway). MARGUHRITB BOYHB (Franco). HODA Third Vice-President: ROSA MANUS (Hollaml). CHARAOUI (Egypt), k-VRIB GINSBERG (Poland), DImIt RANA Fourth Vice-President: OUNWATI MAHARAJ SINGH (India). IVANOVA (Bulgaria). ANDRBB LEHMANN (France), A '" — Fifth Vice-President: HANNA RYI)H (Sweden). NBILANS (Groat Britain), MARGOT PBTBRSEN (Denmark), B Treasurer: NINA SPILL Mil (Urrat. Ilrllaln). ------— ------’ [A (Brasil), Corresponding Secretary: EMII.IB GOURD (Swltserland). i. Minimum Afflllatlon Fee M. HEADQUARTERS: : INTERNATIONAL \ KATHERINE BOMPAS 12, BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD LONDON. S.W.1. ENGLAND Representative In Geneva: EMILIE GOURD, Crète de Pregny, Geneva.

Monsieur Skyetad, Secretariat de la Société des.-Nations, 17, rue Toepffer, Genève. Genève, 11 octobre 1939

Monsieur,

j'ai l'honneur§ie vouejreggfrtre ci-joint, à titre d'information,

le texte français et anglais de la résolution sur les réfugiés qui a été

votée à l'unanimité par le XlIIème Congrès de l'Alliance Internationale

pour le Suffrage et l'Action civique et politique dés Femmes à Copenhague

(8-13 juillet 1939).

Veuillez croire, Monsieur, à l'assurance de notre considération

distinguée. RESOLUTION voted at the Xlllth CONGRESS

of the

International Alliance of Women for Suffrage and Equal Citizenship.

COPENHAGEN, July 8-13, 1939

- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0-

REFUGEES. The Congress, referring to the Resolution adopted at the Istanbul Congress, Declares that the refugee problem has been aggravated since 1935; That the League of Nations adopted on February 10th, 1938, an International Convention dealing with the legal and civil status of refugees ; That as yet very few countries have signed and ratified this Convention; And therefore urges the Congress to call upon the affiliated societies to approach their respective governments to sign and ratify the Convention without delay. XlIIèae Congrès

l'Alliance Internationale pour le Suffrage et l'Action Civique et Politique des Femmes.

COPENHAGUE, 8-13 juillet 1939

Résolution No XII. Lt

REFUGIES

Le Congrès, se référant au voeu adopté par le Congrès d'Istanbul, constate:

Que le problème des réfugiés s'est encore aggravé depuis 1935.

Que la Société des Nations a adopté le 10 février 1938 une Convention internationale concernant le Statut légal et civil des Réfugiés.

Que cette Convention n*a été jusqu'à maintenant signée et ratifiée que par très peu de pays.

Demande instamment aux Sociétés affiliées à l'Alliance d'entreprendre des démarches auprès de leurs gouvernements respectifs afin que cette Convention soit signée et ratifiée sans retard. J «a . 7/F 7 6 ? >

: . . . 'Il

■Ob HEVE, le 'M octobre 1939.

Madame ,

Je m'empresse d 'accuser réception de

votre lettre du 11 de ce mois, par laquelle vous

avez bien voulu me remettre, à titre d 1 informa

tion, le texte de la résolution sur les réfugiés

votée par le XlIIôme Congrès de votre Alliance,

S Copenhague, au mois de Juillet dernier.

Veuillez agréer, Madame, 1 1 assurance de

ma considération la plus respectueuse.

Le Directeur chargé de la question des Réfugiés :

R .B . Skylstuv. Madame Emilie Gourd, Secrétaire Honoraire de 1 ’Alliance Internationale pour le Suffrage et l'Action Civique et Politique des Femmes, 17, rue Toepffer, GENEVE.