Evening star., 1939-06-11
Aimless Cruise Is Grim Example
OF European Refugees Plight
Bill to Admit 10000 German Children to L. S. Is
Pushed by National Groups to
Alleviate the Situation
BY Marqnis ". ChIds.

this country. And under the law the
difference between ASH and 83.574 can
not be made up by immigration from
other countries
Under the present quota law only
27,370 immigrants may be admitted an
nually from Germany and Austria. Not
until the severest Nazi pressure on "un-
wanted elements of the German popu-
lation has this quota been filled From
Germany, for example, in the year 1882
33 only 1919 immigrants entered the
United States. In the following year
the number was 1892. the next year,
520l, then 6346, 10895 in 1861 and
II ,l99 in 1878. This makes a total Of
1882 German refugees admitted to the
country since Hitler came into power.
Taking the present year which ends
July l and assuming the full number,
23370, will be admitted from Greater
Germany. the total is still under $4,000.
What disturbs many Americans is the
fear that any immigrants admitted will
merely swell the ranks of the jobless or
diSplace American workers. But the
American Friends Service Committee
contends that immigrants also make
jobs. Every immigrant coming to
America is a consumer whose wants
must be supplied by American factories
and stores. In the past-When there
was still West to be settled-it was
the great waves of immigration that
lifted the country out of the trough OF
depression. it is pointed out
What Is more, the committee saws in
propaganda for the bill number Of
refugees who's have been admitted to
England have started new industries
that have actually created employment.
The London Spectator recently described
in considerable detail how refugees had
created industries that had made en-
ployment in Britain. The whole of the
valuable Leipzig fur trade has been
transferred to England, according to the
Spectator. A new leather bag business
in Worcestershire employs more than
$50 British subjects.
Businesses Transferred.
In many instances German refugees
have transferred their exporting busi-
nesses to England. manufacturing and
selling for their former customers in
various parts of the world, but with Brit
iSh instead of German workers. On a
small scale this has already begun to
happen in this country, the Quaker Or
ganization reports. And the possibility
is held out that American workers can
be trained to make products that have
hitherto come almost exclusively from
Germany and Czecho-Slovakia.
According to the best estimates avail
able, the American Friends Service Com
mlttee reports, there are about 400 900
Jews by religion still in Germany and
about 300 900 non-Aryan Christians,
centage of Jewish blood. Up to the pres
ent, the committee reports. German
refugees arriving in this country have
been divided in the proportion of ap-
proximately five Jews by religion to two
Christians. but this proportion is ex-
planned by the fact that the Jewish
committees were the first in the field
and have had more time to secure affi-
davits and financial support for their
co-religioniSts.
Under German law. of course any one
is Jew who has as little as Is per cent
Jewish blood in his veins, no matter what
his religion. Many so-called Jews have
no Jewish blood being classed that way
because they are married to Jews. Be-
sides the racial refugees there is some
what smaller group of former Social
Democrats, liberals, moderate Socialists.
pacifistS, journalists, Catholic priests and
Protestant pastors who are desirous of
leaving Germany.
Spanish Refugees in France.
Nor is Germany the only European
country in which a refugee problem ex-
lists. Nearly half million Spanish ref
ugees are in France. They consist of SOL
diers, government officials, journalists,
literary men, liberals, radicals who fled
before Frances triumph. Although they
are living in sdualid camps, it neverthe-
less costs the French government con-
siderable to feed them, and great pressure
10 UciilS UlOuSlt upon IlelT leaders 10
find other countries that will receive
them.
Before the enormity of this problem
the 10000 children to be admitted be-
yond the quota for each of two years
seems small enough. Moreover, the
children are to be selected for health and
brains, the first time that anything like
selective immigration has ever been con-
sidered.
The proposal is modest because those
who have sponsored it realize the
prejudices they must come up against.
Prejudices grow out of the insecurity
that comes with mass unemployment.
And out of fear and prejudice come
whispering campaigns and all the rumor
and superstition of which race hatred is
made. For some time there has been a
persistently whispered rumor that ref
ugees have been replacing regular en-
ployes in department stores throughout
the country. Run to earth, such rumors
are always proved false, but they do vast
harm nevertheless.