BASQUE REFUGEES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1938, Page 8

BASQUE REFUGEES

MANY STILL IN ENGLAND. Nearly 2000 Basque refugee children are still scattered from Montrose in Scotland to Plymouth in the’South of England in the 43 Homes which have been organised to care for them (says the.“ Christian Science Monitor.”) Of the 4000 who came from Spain in the early months of 1937 when their country was invaded by Insurgent forces more than half have been sent back to their parents. Practically all the parents of those who are left are either missing, are refugees themselves or have been made political prisoners. It is felt that complete repatriation would not take place for several months even when the civil war ends, as conditions would not be suitable for the return of children, especially in eastern Spain. OBTAINING FUNDS. These children were brought from Spain on condition that no public money was used for their maintenance. The Homes rely on private charity for their support. The children themselves, however, play a large part in obtaining funds. It is here that their traditional songs and dances help. They are able to earn considerable sums by giving concerts in which the boys and girls perform Basque dances and sing folk songs. According to Home Office regulations foreign children are not allowed to work for wages while in England, but many of the older children help to run the Homes in which they live and thus cut down the expense of organisation. “The Basque ; Children’s Committee, the central organisation in Britain, has also worked out a system of adoption under which members of the public undertake to pay for the maintenance of a Basque child while he. or she remains in Britain. Many friendships have been made in this way between parents and the children.