New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-03
NO MORE RUSSIAN HEBREW REFUGEES

NO MORE RUSSIAN HEBREW REFUGEES
The exodus of prosecuted Jews from Russia
has been arrested by the refusal of the Jews in
other parts of Europe and in America to give
them further aid. A convention Of the rep
resentatives of the various Hebrew Emil
grant Aid Societies of Europe and America was
held at Vienna on August 2, 3 and 4, and a
unanimous decision was reached not to give aid
to any emigrants who were to leave after that
date. Mr.. Edward Lauterbach, who repre-
scented the American Society, has sent an inter
esting account of the proceedings of the con-
vention to The American HobreW of this city.
He SAYS he explained to the convention that
no more refugees were wanted in America for
many reasons. In the first place those then at
BrOdy, seven thousand in number, awaiting
transportation, were mainly of a class from
whom no satisfactory emigrants could be OBJ
tanned. furthermore, immigration was not
popular among American Hebrews partly
because of the character Of the emgrants who
had been sent Finally, it was much better for
the emigrants themselves to send them back
to Russia He charged that unfaiIness and
bad faith had been shown by the European
committees, especially the Mansion House
Committee of London, In forwarding Migrants
after notice had been given that they
could not be received unless funds for their
expenses were forwarded with them.
The convention was much alarmed lest some
of the refugees already in America should be
sent back to Europe, and Mr. LauteIbach gave
the guarded assurance that so long as no more
were sent without the consent of the American
Society, and so long rs by proper and adequate
contributions from Europe and their own col
lections the society was able to continue its
work, none would be returned except those
who were untitled to remain or desired to re-
turn; but that when it became apparent that
the functions of the society were likely to
cease from lack of funds, then rather than add
to the pauper population of America those who
were unable to support themselves would be
sent back. This plain statement had such an
effect upon the convention that series of res
Outions was adopted unanimously, declaring
that aid would henceiOrth be provided only
for refugees actually ut BrodY, and no one else
could be registered for help arriving either
from Russia or from any other place. The
local committee at Brody was instructed to rid
that place of refugees as rapidly as possible,
first by repatriation and second by diffusion.
All were to be sent back to Russia except those
to whom return might be dangerous. A sum
of one million francs was set apart from the
funds Of the Berlin, LONDON, Paris and Vienna
societies for the expense of evacuating Brody
Of the refugees and sending them either to
Russia or other countries. II was agreed
that none should be sent to America without
consent in advance from the American So
ciety.
The reason given for this action is said to
have been the assurance from Brody that per-
secutons in Russia had ceased, and that re-
patriation was feasible except in the case of
about 600 who had deserted from the army.
1t seems to have been admitted that no coloni-
zation scheme could succeed because there
was no large charitable fund forthcoming to
sustain it. Indeed, although Mr.. Lauerbach
says nothing of the kind, the convention
betrayed q palpable eagerness to get the ref
ugees of its hands, and to put stop to the
exodus at once. The refugees do not seem to
have made pleasing impression even among
their own people