Evening star., 1939-10-17
RooseveIts Statement
Study Of Problem Of Resettling Several
Million War Refugees Urged

ton to humanity to carry On the
work.
/ have suggested that the current
task is small In comparison with the
future task. The war will come to
an end some day, and those Of us
who are realists know that In its
wake the world will face q refugee
problem Of different character and
OF infinitely greater magnitude.
Nearly every great war leaves be-
hind 1t vast numbers Of human
beings whose roots have been lit
terally torn up. Inevitably there are
great numbers of individuals who
have lost all family -ties-individuals
who find no home to return to, no
occupation to resume-individuals
who for many different reasons must
seek to rebuild their lives under new
environments.
Every war leaves behind 1t tens of
thousands of families who for very
many different reasons are COM
PEELED to start life anew In other
lands.
Economic considerations may af-
feet thousands Of families and in
dividuals.
All we can do is to estimate on
the reasonable doctrine of chances,
that when this ghastly war ends
there may be not one million, but
ten million or twenty million men,
women and children belonging to
many races and many religions, Hv-
ing in many countries and possibly
on several continents, who will enter
into the wide picture-the problem
OF the human refugee.
Serious Study Advised.
I ask, therefore, that as the second
great task that lies before this
committee, it start at this time a
serious and probably a fairly ex-
pensive effort to survey and study
definitely and scientifically this geo.
graphical and economic problem of
resettling several million people in
new areas Of the earth's surface.
We have been working, up to
now, on too small a scale, and we
have failed to apply modern enRi-
neering to our task. We know al.
ready that there are many compara-
lively vacant spaces on the earth's
surface where from the point of
view Of climate and natural re-
sources European settlers can live
permanently.
Some Of these lands have No
means Of access; some of them re-
quire irrigation; most of them re.
quire soil and health SURVEYS: all
OF them present in the process of
settlement economic problems which
must be tied in with the economy
OF existing settled areas.
The possible field of new settle
ments covers many portions of the
African. American and Australian
portions Of the globe. It covers
millions OF square miles situated in
comparatively young republics and
IN colonial possessions or dominions
of older nations.
Most of these territories which are
inherently susceptible of colonial
ton by those who perforce seek
new homes. cannot be developed
without at least two or three years
OF engineering and economic studies.
1t Is neither wise nor fair to send
any colonists to them until the
engineering and economic surveys
have resulted in practical and def
mite plans.
Problem Of All Groups.
We hope and we trust that ex-
isting wars will terminate quickly;
and If that is our hope there is
all the more reason for all of us
to make ready. beginning today, for
the solution of the problem Of the
refugee. The quicker we begin
the undertaking and the quicker
We bring it to reasonable decision,
the quicker will we be able to say
that we can contribute something
to the establishment of world peace.
Gentlemen. that is a challenge to
the 1ntergovernmental Committee
1t Is duty because of the pressure
OF need-it is an opportunity be-
cause 1t gives chance to take part
IN the building Of new communities
for those who need them. Out Of the
dregs Of present disaster we can
distill some real achievements In
human progress.
This problem involves no one race
group-no one religious faith. It Is
the problem Of all groups and all
faiths. It is not enough to indulge