Evening star., 1939-03-16
$4,000 Czech Jews
Future Uncertain
As Result Of Coup
Committee Set Up by
Roosevelt and Hull
To Study Problem
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
A new refugee problem, growing
out Of the dissolution of Czecno-
Slovakia, was added today to the
existing struggle to care for Ger
man-Jewish refugees.
AS American officials closely fol-
lowed Central European develop
ments to determine how they would
affect the United States, 1t was
estimated that there are $4,000
Jews in Czecho- -Slovakia.
A large portion of Czech Jews,
1t Is believed here, will be required
through German pressure to leave
Bohemia and Slovakia. Dispatches
reaching Washington disclose that
even before the breakup OF the
postwar republic, Adolf Hitler had
brought pressure to bear on the
Prague government toward this end.
The Inter-G Governmental Refu-
gee Committee set up in London
on the initiative of President Roose-
welt and Secretary Hull shortly will
see what steps can be taken to aid
the Czech Jews.
Problem May Be Simplified.
If Germany absorbs Bohemia and
Slovakia politically, the problem will
be simplified, because the mandate
Of the Inter- Governmental Com
mittee covers refugees either In Ger
man territory or those who have
been obliged to leave German ter
ritory.
If Germany does not actually an
mex Bohemia and Slovakia 5000
or more Jews In former Czecho-
Slovakia nevertheless will come
under the mandate of the London
committee because they were for
merly In Germany and the Sudeten-
land.
The United States, however, can
give little direct assistance. Con-
trary to what happened in the case
Of Germany, whose immigration
quota to this country was filled only
partially, the Czecho- -Slovakia quota
is 80 per cent filled. It totals only
2,874 year.
Of1cials here doubt whether much
can be done for the Czech Jews
until the Inter- Governments Com
mittee chooses a new homeland
from among number of suggested
locations. A committee now Is in
British Guiana, on the northeast
coast Of South America, making an
investigation with this in mind.
Few Coup Benefits Seen.
When the new land is decided
on, the Inter-Governmental Com
mittee will receive American finan-
cial assistance in helping settle the
Jews there.
A high-ranking official Of the
Commerce Department expressed
the opinion that Germany might
benefit very little economically from
her coup in Czecho-
The principal gain, he said. would
come from acquisition of additional
labor. He explained that transfer
of the Sudetenland to the Reich
had created q serious unemploy-
ment problem In Czecho- -Slovakia,
but that Germany had q labor
shortage, due to the large number
Of persons employed in armament
industries.
Czecho-S -Slovakia, the onicial con-
tinued, has little iron ore, copper
and manganese, which are needed
by Germany.
Trade Pact Held Doomed.
He said Germany would acquire
factories. but that some of these
would become competitors Of Ger
man industries. Czecho- -Slovakia's
farms, he asserted, might help pro-
duce more food for Germany.
Meanwhile a State Department
official predicted that the United
States trade agreement with Czecho-
Slovakia would have to be scrapped
as the result Of developments in
Europe. He said that If Germany
formed q customs union with areas
Of what formerly was Czecho-
Slovakia the products of those areas
would have to pay increased duties
upon entering the United States.
He explained that the areas would
be on the same basis as Germany,
which Is denied tariff reduction
benefits accorded countries having
trade agreements with the United
States.