Evening star., 1938-07-13
A 'Yes-But' Conference.

PRESIDENT RooSevelt'S latest f1reside
chat, on the eve of his political pill
grimage, tilted at politicians who favor
his detectives but decry his methods.
He pilloried them as yes, but" men. It
begins to look as II the Intergovern-
mental Conference on Refugees, which
has been in session at Evian since July
6, were "yes, but" affair.
The thirty-two participating nations
including Great Britain, France and the
United States, which dominated pro-
ceedings, We'd with one another in de-
ploring the plight faced by Germany
Austria's 1000, ,000-odd oppressed of va
rious religious creeds and political
faiths. They were no less unanimous
in the sympathetic desire to ameliorate
their lot. But when it came to the brass
tacks of ways and means for facilitating
their emigration-the underlying pur-
pose of the conference emulated
a famous region said to be paved with
good intentions.
The conference plans to continue its
efforts through a permanent body to be
st up in London. While the intergov-
ernmental committee which has milled
over formulae for the past week would
determine policy, the real work of di-
recting the proposed exodus would be
done by permanent official, prospec-
lively an American of distinction. The
name of Henry L. Stimson is mentioned
in this connection. There have been
other suggestions that Herbert Hoover,
veteran humanitarian, would be the
logical leader Mr.. Hoover recently con-
ferred with Hitler and Goering. He may
have first-hand knowledge Of the ideol-
ogy which inspires Nazi oppression Of
minorities. What would be of even more
Importance, the former President may
have learned what chance there is of
the Reich's permitting refugees to es-
cape with decent portion of their own
property, vital determinant Of their
welcome in potential asylum countries.
Certain objections trotted out at
Evian illuminate the difficulties inherent
in the situation. Central American ma
tions would accept some refugees" If all
the countries represented on the inter-
governmental committee would receive
numbers proportionate to their terri
tories. The Dominican Republic would
welcome intellectual refugees as bene-
fit, but the Central American govern
ments declared they "are already sat-
urated with intellectuals and business
men," Paraguay admits it "has far too
few inhabitants for its vast fertility, but
would limit immigration to agriculture
lists. Switzerland like Germany's other
neighbors, would restrict its cooperation
to temporary refugees for transit pur-
poses. Britain, France and America
represented privately that economic con-
ditions and virtually immutable immi-
grafton laws do not make it feasible to
let down the bars to any wide degree
Palestine, in a state of semi-civil war, is
less receptive than at any time in Zion
ist history.
1t would be unjust to Mr. Taylor, his
American associates at Evian and to
the delegates of other countries to brand
the conference failure. Their problem
is not Rome that can be built in day.
Granted the abundant will that is mani
fest, 1t should not tax the ingenuity of
the nations to find the way. The Nazis
must not be permitted to gloat trat the
minority groups they brand as outcasts
are pariahs in the outside worlds
opinion, too.