JEWISH REFUGEES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1938, Page 9

JEWISH REFUGEES

ADMISSION TO BRITISH COLONIES QUESTIONS. IN COMMONS (British- Official Wireless) RUGBY, March 30. Asked in the House of Commons whether the Government would evolve some scheme to offer Jewish refugees from Austria and similarly-placed European countries a new home in a suitable British possession overseas, the Colonial Secretary, Mr W. OrmsbyGore, replied that the objections to a policy of indiscriminate admission of refugees mentioned by the Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, recently applies also to the colonies. Owing to climatic conditions and the existence of large native populations, there was no territory in the colonial Empire where any large-scale settlement was practicable. The Governors of a number of colonies had recently been consulted as to openings for individual cases of refugees possessing a small amount of capital, but he regretted that the replies so far received showed that such opening were likely to be few.

In'another answer on the refugee question, the Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr R. A. Butler, referred to the United States Government’s proposal and said it was hoped to reply at a very early date.