Evening star., 1935-07-28

| course, aware that my proposals could
supply only partial solution.
Nevertheless, even this partial solu-
ton is urgently wanted. The uncer-
tainty of existence of the refugees,
their hunger and despair hold many
dangers for weak characters. The
Wesemann case, the espionage cases
| in France, the suicide of Dora Fabian
and Mathilde Wurm are proof enough
of this.
When people face starvation, then
those whose characters are not strong
enough become either traitors to their
comrades or danger to the country
that has taken them in-that is, spies.
And many useful man has preferred
death to life full of humiliation and
anxiety.
| Several hundred destitute and de-
spairing refugees in France could be
helped If people could be found to
finance their support for little while.
A Paris association is ready to pre-
pare, I understand, the emigration
overseas Of these refugees and to bear
the whole travelling cost. These peo-
pie must be supported until the day
OF their departure-that is, in plain
language, saved from starvation.
Where are the friends of humanity
who will undertake this relatively
small charge at once?
The real task, meanwhile, lies with
the League of Nations. There is moth
ing in the Covenant of the League of
Nations which deals directly with the
aid of refugees; but the humanitarian
action Of the League has been based
upon article % (a) of the Covenant.
which prescribes that: Members of
the League will endeavor to secure
and maintain fair and humane con-
ditions of labor for men, women and
children both in their own countries
and in all countries to which their
commercial and industrial relations
extend"
Red Cross Applies to League.
In 1921 the International Red Cross
having realized the impoSSibility OF
solving by itself the problem of the
100000 refugees who had fed from
Russia, applied to the League.
The most courageous friend of the
refugees was Fritjof Nansen. With ad-
mirable, self1ess passion this great
European took up their plight. The
League appointed him high commits.
sioner for refugees. This Office he
held with absolute mastery until his
death in 1880, and devoted himself
Internationally to this work.
The League of Nations commissioner
had two tasks:
(a) To regulate the legal status of q
mass of people who had no nation
ality;
(b) To assist them to find per-
manent homes and work.
In 1928 a further 800 600 Armenians
who had been rendered homeless and
deprived Of their nationality by the
Turks were put under his care. Later
we're added a number of Eastern
Christians, Chaldeans, Assyrians anc
Greeks.
The chief task of the commissioner
was to provide the refugees with
identity papers and to domicile then
in other countries. The Nansen pass
port was created and recognized by
the 16 signatory powers.
The recent wave of refugees from
Germany has presented the League
of Nations with new problems.
In 1888, on the proposal Of thu
Dutch delegate of the League, a high
commiSsionership for German refu-
gees was established. But as the Naz
delegates raised objections this high
commissionership could not be placed
directly under the League. This means
that the high commissioner had tht
title but not the pcsyers nor the i'm
portance of League commissioner.
The high commissioner receives nj
kind of financial aid from the League
of Nations, and the work must be sup
ported by privately contributed means
This is naturally an impossible stats
of affairs.
Central Office Needed.
AIleT NdIlScIl > ucdOll bLlC bCdSu'
of Nations decided to dissolve Nan.
sens post. But in view of the nev
movement of refugees it would b
necessary for the League not merel.
to revoke its decision, but to extent
considerably the sphere of activity o
the post. A central Office must b
established at the League which vii
|
try, and whose task it will be Il
provide these people with the neces
sary papers and the opportunity o
rebuilding their lives. This oftic
should also look after the interest o
the Stateless persons, who, even !
they are not refugees, find themSelve
in an extremely difficult position.
The German and Spanish refugee
Gas also numbers from various othe
countrieS) who do not possess Nansei
passports must receive them. In add
ton, the bureaucratic dificultie
which still stand in the way of thosi
who do hold such passports must b
removed by a voluntary agreement
of the signatory powers.
mdlly puUAO A6uhCos PaA oASoAeSAy -
England, among them being Lor'
Cecil, support an extension Of tn
sphere of activity of the high com
missioner and reorganization of tn
whole question.
The refugee question Is not an iso
lated problem. It is not Jewish,
not q Christian" not a political
l Il. vf
whole struggle for the victory of hu
manity over barbarism and the perse
cution of opinion. If today we canno
defend freedom, human dignity ant
humanity, then all benevolent dona
tions and assistance, however wei
meant, are In vain.