IN THREE WAVES.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1922, Page 4

IN THREE WAVES.

RUSH TO CONSTANTINOPLE

PLIGHT OF RUSSIAN REFUGEES

LONDON, March 1

“Constantinople is full to overflowing with relitgees, Both Christian and .Moslem," said Sir Samuel Hon re in nil interview to-day. ‘The city is dead, and there is no means of finding work for them, living is expensive.” Sir Sfunnel went obt to the Near East last 'Christinas rift behalf of the League of Nations to investigate the problem of the Russian refugees in Constantinople, ami returned recently, A year ago the League founded a depnrtniofi't to deal With Russian relief, and made Dr Nansen High Commissioner. 'Refugee Russians had no status and therefore were adopted, as it were, by the League. Then cable the Russian famine, and Dr Nansen’s whole time I was absorbed in its relief. He was overworked find ha(l no time to devote to the refugees, of whom there are some two and a half millions in Europe. The three waves of emigration which followed the Bolshevik revolution and the fall of Denikin and of Wrangel poured about 200,090 Russians through Constantinople, and some 35,000 of them are ttill lel'l. Sir ‘Samuel Home went out at the request o'f Dr Nansen to deal with them. “1 could see at once,” lie said to me to-day, "that the position was acute. The Urgent problem Was to get as many of them as possible into countries where living was cheaper and where there wrs a chance of work. The Slav c’orintries, . Cuecho-Slovakia, Jugo-Sl.nvia and Bulgarin offered the lest outlet, especially us in those countries there would he a Slav nihility which would help the refugees to make friends quickl,\. PASSPORT DIFFICULTIES.

AVlint 1 did, ’therefore, was to start an office of the League at Constantinople to facilitate the departure and settlement of as many refugees as those countries would accept. One of the difficulties is that of obtaining passports or visas fur the refugees who at present have no political status. 1 hone that the League office in Constantinople will he able to do lunch towards solving this particular difficulty. The office is working so satisfactorily that 1 am convinced that if the League gives it enough hacking it will soon break the hack of the Constantinople ptoblein. “The most immediate difficulty is that of money. If the organisation is to succeed the League must somehow obtain enough money to provide the refugees with the transparent and travelling expenses. 1 have, therefore, urged the League to summon a meeting of the Council. \Y ilh a taw thousand pounds and the help ol the Slav Governments, all of which have shown tliemielves up to tiro present to he very ready to help, a large number of the refugees could la* got out ol • oiistantiiiople during the next three months. "The British Government, has an in direct interest in the solution of the problem, ns for some months past it lias been trying to obtain the permission of the .lugo-Slnv Government to admit the refugees now in Egypt, alalia, and Cyprus into Jngo-Slavia. These

are the refugees who left Russia alter the Denikin collapse, when they were given a guarantee by Sir Halford Mackinder that the British Government would look after them.

"1 have suggested as part of my scheme that the British Government should hand over the care of these refugees lo the League of Nations, and should c-ml its obligation towards them by the payment of a lump sum to tlie League. This side of the question will also have to he considered by the ( ouiieil of the League if it meets.” I asked Sir Samuel what chances he thought there would he ol ultimately repatriating the refugees hack to Russia.

"Sooner or later,” he said, * I hope they will return of their own free will, and 1 want the Council of the League to Consider under what conditions and safeguards from the Soviet Government the League could help them to go back. There lias never Been any question c,l forcing them hack. “I ant afraid tlie outlook,” he added "is riot Vcri-y hopeful, if for no other reason than the Limine. It is obviously no good encouraging them to return if they are to starve wheri the\ do return. But the opportunity will come, rind 1 want the League to lie prepared with its conditions to be asked „r the Bolshevik Government. The League is in the peculiar position oi being the only body in Europe, so fains I "know, which has definitely undertaken the protection of the