SIXTH MEETING (PUBLIC) Held on Friday, July i$th, 1938, at 11 a. m.

Chairman: Mr. Myron C. Taylor; later, M. Henry Berenger.

25. Communication by the Chairman.

The Chairman read the following telegrams :

" Please accept my adhesion to draft resolution with latest modifications as well as my acceptance report Technical Sub-Committee. Regret to be absent and beg you to accept assurance my highest consideration. óMaurice Rosal, Delegate of Honduras."

" Express my approval of the resolution adopted yesterday by the Committee. ó (Signed) Diaz, Delegate of Guatemala."

The Chairman. óCopies of the resolution which has been under consideration and which was unanimously adopted yesterday have been placed in the hands of all present and are also available to the public. In view of this fact, I assume that it is not necessary to read the resolution in either English or French.

26. Close of the Session.

The Chairman. óIn my opening statement, I stressed the fact that the problem of refugees was so complex, was so vast, that we probably could do no more at this initial session than put in motion the machinery, and correlate it with existing machinery, that would in the long run contribute to an amelioration of the condition of the unfortunate people with whom we are concerned.

I am happy to report that, due to the serious spirit of co-operation which has animated this first intergovernmental meeting, due to the deep-rooted conviction that we were dealing with a harrowing human problem, we have been able to recommend to our respective Governments the establishment of machinery that should, if we keep the wheels turning, bring about a real improvement in the lives and prospects of many millions of our fellow-men.

We have done more. We have heard from the Governments of refuge and settlement confidential statements which hold out prospects for an increased reception of refugees within the framework of existing immigration laws and practices. We have had from the private organisations estimates of the extent of the problem with which we are faced, together with proposals for a solution which we shall take into account in formulating concrete plans for the continuation of our work.

Our work must, and it will, continue, tirelessly, without interruption, in order that the hopes of the men, women and children who have placed their faith in our efforts may not be dispelled and their suffering embittered.

This meeting is merely a beginning. From this time forward, the Intergovernmental Committee is in permanent session. I shall expect the participating Governments to remain in close contact with the Chairman in the interim between the adjournment to-day and the reconvening at London. Moreover, I sincerely hope that the representatives of the other participating Governments will come to London prepared to give a further and vigorous impetus to the movement which was initiated by President Roosevelt and has been given strength by the hospitable reception at Evian assured by the Government of France, the friendly invitation to London proffered by the Government of the United Kingdom, and by the loyal support of the other participating Governments.

To refer once again to my opening statement, I remarked then that, unless steps were taken forthwith to remedy the present disorderly exodus of people from their country of origin, there was catastrophic human suffering ahead which might have far-reaching consequences in international unrest and strain. I wish to emphasise this statement once more. It is substantiated by the information which has reached us day by day as we have been in session here. It is vital that orderly emigration should replace disorderly exodus. It is essential that the emigrants should leave their country of origin with their property and possessions if they are to take root and sustain themselves in countries of settlement. It is

imperative, in consequence, that the countries which are willing to receive emigrants in refuge or in permanent settlement should have the colli^boration in these respects of the country of origin.

In closing, I am anxious to emphasise that we are seeking to approach this human problem with which we must deal in an objective manner, and we seek a solution promptly that will lighten the burden of many who are suffering and are in sorrow, in sickness and in want.

Lord Winterton (United Kingdom). óOn behalf of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, I have gladly accepted both resolutions, which represent in my opinion a very encouraging outcome of our work.

In the first place, the resolutions record positive progress in the direction of enlarging the opportunities for the emigration of refugees from Germany (including Austria). In the second place, they open up important prospects of carrying the question further through the Committee which is to meet shortly in London.

We consider these results most satisfactory, as the first fruits of the wise and courageous initiative of the President of the United States of America.

The Intergovernmental Committee which we propose to set up in London will begin its work there soon. I need hardly say how warmly His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will welcome in London the representatives of the countries meeting here to-day.

The Committee will perhaps expect me, as representing the Power that holds the mandate for Palestine, to offer some observations. It has been represented in some quarters that the whole question, at least of the Jewish refugees, could be solved if only the gates of Palestine were thrown open to Jewish immigrants without restriction of any kind. I should like to say, as emphatically as I can, that I regard any such proposition as wholly untenable. First, Palestine is not a large country, and apart from that there are special considerations arising out of the terms of the mandate and out of the local situation which it is impossible to ignore.

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, as mandatory Power, has a direct obligation under the terms of the mandate to facilitate Jewish immigration into Palestine under suitable conditions. This responsibility it has discharged and will continue to discharge in the light of the conditions actually prevailing from time to time. The record that has been achieved in this respect is one which calls for no apology. Some 300,000 Jews have entered the country since 1920. The number of German Jews admitted during the last few years is, I believe, over 40,000.

I have referred to prevailing conditions. I need not enlarge on these conditions prevailing at the present time. The acute problems that have arisen and the special difficulties with which the mandatory Government is confronted are a matter of general knowledge. They have led, as you all know, to proposals for drastic changes in the political structure of the country, the practical aspects of which are still under active consideration. ^Pending the completion of these investigations, it has been found necessary, not indeed to discontinue Jewish immigrationóthat has never been contemplatedóbut to subject it to certain restrictions of a purely temporary and exceptional character, the object of which is to maintain within reasonable limits the existing balance of population, pending., a . final decisionówhich we all hope may be reached at as early a date as possibleóon the political future of the country. \

That is the situation as it stands to-day. I would repeat that the arrangements now in force are purely temporary in character and are designed to cover what may be described as a period of transition. They will be subject to revision when the investigations to which I have referred have been completed and the mandatory Power is in a position to review the whole question in the light of their results. But for the moment the position is as I have described, and no immediate change is to be anticipated. In all the circumstances, our view is that the question of Palestine stands upon a footing of its own and cannot usefully be taken into account at the present stage in connection with the general problems that are under consideration at this meeting.

I am glad to say that I am now in a position to speak with somewhat greater precision in regard to settlement in one of the East African territories. What I have to say relates to the colony of Kenya. The possibilities offered by Kenya for the small-scale settlement of Jewish refugees have been under consideration for some time. After preliminary discussion with the local authorities, the private organisation concerned sent out an expert adviser to investigate the question on the spot. It is understood that his report is favourable and that a scheme has been evolved and is now under active consideration for the acquisition of private land in the colony.

What precise form this plan may ultimately take I am not now in a position to say, but in any case it is quite clear that the process of settlement must be a gradual one. There can be no question of mass immigration or of disturbing land allotted for native occupation.

As regards possibilities elsewhere in East Africa, I have not yet the material to enable me to add to what I said last week, but I should like to repeat that enquiries are being actively pursued and that there is every desire, both on the part of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and of the colonial authorities, to render any assistance that may be found practicable.

We have met here at Evian for a humanitarian purpose, and we have all had very much <(#mind the hardships and difficulties of the people, who, by reason of the pressure to which they are subjected, feel compelled to leave their homes. I hope that their sufferings may be alleviated in consequence of the present meeting and of the further discussions of the Committee to be set up in London. My colleague and I have been much impressed by the ,. willingness of all countries represented at this meeting to contribute, as far as their circumstances permit, to this result.

In conclusion, Sir, I wish, as warmly as I can, to thank you, our Chairman, for the able, charming and dignified manner in which you have followed up the initiative of President Roosevelt. I should also like to thank our honorary Chairman, M. Henry Berenger, whose experience and sagacity have been of such assistance to us all. It must be a source of satisfaction to them both to see that their guidance of our proceedings has resulted in so harmonious a conclusion.

The Chairman. óI am sure I shall be expressing the feelings of all the delegates here in saying how cordially we welcome at this meeting the distinguished Ambassador of Bolivia, M. Costa du Rels, who was unfortunately unable to be present at the earlier sessions.

I have now the honour to propose that this meeting shall send the following telegram to the President of the French Republic :

" The Intergovernmental Meeting at Evian, upon concluding its sessions, desires to thank Your Excellency, and through you the French people, for the friendly reception which has been accorded the representatives of thirty-two nations on French soil. It is good augury for the great humanitarian work which has been undertaken that we should have your support and that we should have been able to begin our work on the traditionally hospitable territory of France."

The proposal was adopted by acclamation.

The Chairman. óIt is now my pleasure to ask the Committee to vote a resolution of appreciation and thanks to our Secretary-General, M. Jean Paul-Boncour. M. Paul-Boncour is responsible in great part for the smooth functioning of our meeting. As Chairman, I have learned to appreciate his great qualities of diplomatic tact and administrative efficiency. He has been indefatigable in easing my task and, were he not in the service of his own country, I should like to enrol him in our service and take him back to Washington.

The resolution was adopted by acclamation.

The Chairman. óI have no doubt that there will be enthusiastic support of the next resolution which I propose to introduce. I ask for unanimous approval of a resolution of appreciation to Mademoiselle Boisseau and her staff, who have worked efficiently and quietly and virtually without interruption since the opening of this meeting and have contributed so materially to its success.

The resolution was adopted by acclamation.

jThe Chairman. óThe last duty which I have to perform as your Chairman is an exceptionally pleasant one. I can hardly find words to express my own profound respect and gratitudeóand I am sure you are with me in thatóto our Honorary Chairman, M. Berenger, Ambassador of France. His wise counsel, his brilliant finesse, have largely contributed to the success of this meeting. We count upon his continued participation in our work, even though we may be leaving the fair and hospitable land of France for the equally fair and hospitable shores of Britain. (Applause.)

M. A. Costa du Rels (Bolivia) [Translation}. óMr. Chairman, I deeply appreciate the kind words of welcome you were good enough to address to my country. It was on account of purely fortuitous circumstances that we were unable to attend these meetings from the outset.

That, of course, in no vay affects our response to the generous initiative of President Roosevelt, a man vhose greatness lies in the fact that he is indifferent to nothing that affects humanity. How could our attitude be a different one, since only a few months ago the country I represent had the honour of presiding in Paris over the Committee of the Council of the League of Nations which was set up for the purpose of drawing up a statute for refugees throughout the world, including refugees from Germany and Austria. In our discussions there we benefited from the invaluable co-operation of the United Kingdom and France, two countries which are always associated in work for peace and good international understanding.

In the course of our work, we have tried to complete a task the value of which has long been evident. Since we are in an atmosphere of concord and understanding, I feel impelled to add that the work done by the League of Nations in helping refugees in the last fifteen years, constitutes a magnificent achievement, the value of which one is sometimes tempted in the present chaotic state of the world to underestimate and even to forget. Thanks to that work, hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved, hundreds of thousands of cases of hardship have been relieved and hundreds of thousands of human beings have been given fresh courage and confidence.

For that reason I wish to take this opportunity to express to M. Hansson, President of the Nansen Office, and Sir Neill Malcolm, High Commissioner in London, the admiration felt by a witness of their activities. The fact that there is a probability of collaboration in London between the League of Nations organs and the Intergovernmental Committee is not the least

of the reasons for which my Government will fully support the resolution laid before us. The organs of the League represent the pastóthat is to say, experienceówhereas the Intergovernmental Committee stands for the futureófor a new dynamic force and a new faith.

Personally, I consider that those are sufficient reasons for my Government to take up the study of this question in a spirit of comprehension and sympathy. At the next meeting in London we shall endeavour to give our assistance within the limits of our material possibilities and the laws in force in our country, for we feel that the refugee problem can be adequately solved only if it is placed upon a high plane unmarked by any trace of political or ideological considerations. We cannot forget that to the old adage " Policy comes first! " we must to-day reply " No, humanity comes first ! "

That is why, on behalf of my Government, I support, in principle, the resolution that has been laid before us and I welcome the prospect of seeing streams of Jewish emigration moving towards our countries in America and creating there new centres of civilisation and progressóin territories, of course, that are not the subject of any dispute.

The Chairman. óI would like to recall what was said yesterday with reference to the period between ti? present meeting and the meeting to be held on August 3rd in London. It would be a very great convenience to those who are going to be actively engaged on the continuation of the work in the interim if you would communicate to me, c/o the Honourable William C. Bullitt, American Ambassador to France, at the American Embassy in Paris, any documentation it may be desired to submit, in order that the representatives to be chosen by the several Governments may have in hand any preparatory suggestions before the London meeting. It wpuld help our work very much if any such documentation were forwarded as expeditiously as possible.

I have now very great pleasure in calling upon the Honorary Chairman, M. Henry Berenger, to take over once more the conduct of the business of this meeting.

Lord Winterton (United Kingdom). óBefore you leave the Chair, Sir, I would like to recall what I said at the executive meeting yesterdayónamely, that I hope all the delegations will agree that the text of our resolutions should be communicated to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations for his information.

The Chairman. óThe meeting agreed to that course being taken. (M. Berenger took the Chair.)

M. H. Berenger (Honorary Chairman) (Translation]. óI should be failing in my duty of gratitude if I did not first express to Mr. Myron C. Taylor, and to you all, my feelings of profound emotion when I heard the friendly references made first by Lord Winterton and secondly by Mr. Myron C. Taylor. However much my own personal modesty may suffer, I am bound to recognise that I have the honour to represent here a great country with a great history, and that it is to France that the words of my very distinguished colleagues are addressed. Quite simply and quite sincerely, I should like to say that, in my long political career, both national and international, no tribute has ever moved me more deeply, because I realise that we are engaged here upon a great work of human brotherhood and international charity, and the French representative could not but be deeply moved by the references made to his country and himself. I thank you all.

I should like now to express the views of my Government. On behalf of the Government of France, which appointed me specially as Ambassador to preside over its delegation at this Intergovernmental Committee, I have unreservedly accepted the resolutions unanimously adopted for the purpose of giving effective and continuous help to refugees from Germany (including Austria).

France will collaborate fully in this work in future as she has collaborated fully in the past, since 1933, with the League of Nations organs. The French Republic thus remains faithful to its historic traditions of assistance to exiles and of international sympathy.

We agree with the view expressed by Mr. Myron C. Taylor, on behalf of the President of the United States of America, that this session at Evian is only the beginning of a great collective effort, which will be continued forthwith in a more and more practical form at a further meeting to be held in London on August 3rd next under the auspices of His Britannic Majesty's Government and, indeed, of the whole British people.

The French delegate therefore thanks Mr. Myron C. Taylor, Lord Winterton and M. Costa du Rels for their sympathetic references to the French Government. I shall regard it as a duty to report those references immediately on my return to Paris to the President of the Republic and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who only this morning expressed his full approval of the work done here by the Intergovernmental Committee. France is indeed proud to have been chosen by the United States Government as the channel for giving actual expression to the initiative taken by the President of the United States. She is truly gratified to have been able in this beautiful setting of mountain and lake to prove, by the loyalty of her republican institutions and the orderline ss of her democracy, her ability to receive all the countries of the world, and to guarantee them the fullest material and moral amenities for their intergovernmental deliberations on behalf of the peace of the whole world, the independence of all countries, and the freedom of humanity everywhere.

of the reasons for which my Government will fully support the resolution laid before us. The organs of the League represent the pastóthat is to say, experienceówhereas the Intergovernmental Committee stands for the futureófor a new dynamic force and a new faith.

Personally, I consider that those are sufficient reasons for my Government to take up the study of this question in a spirit of comprehension and sympathy. At the next meeting in London we shall endeavour to give our assistance within the limits of our material possibilities and the laws in force in our country, for we feel that the refugee problem can be adequately solved only if it is placed upon a high plane unmarked by any trace of political or ideological considerations. We cannot forget that to the old adage " Policy comes first! " we must to-day reply " No, humanity comes first ! "

That is why, on behalf of my Government, I support, in principle, the resolution that has been laid before us and I welcome the prospect of seeing streams of Jewish emigration moving towards our countries in America and creating there new centres of civilisation and progressóin territories, of course, that are not the subject of any dispute.

The Chairman. óI would like to recall what was said yesterday with reference to the period between tis? present meeting and the meeting to be held on August 3rd in London. It would be a very great convenience to those who are going to be actively engaged on the continuation of the work in the interim if you would communicate to me, c/o the Honourable William C. Bullitt, American Ambassador to France, at the American Embassy in Paris, any documentation it may be desired to submit, in order that the representatives to be chosen by the several Governments may have in hand any preparatory suggestions before the London meeting. It wpuld help our work very much if any such documentation were forwarded as expeditiously as possible.

I have now very great pleasure in calling upon the Honorary Chairman, M. Henry Berenger, to take over once more the conduct of the business of this meeting.

Lord Winterton (United Kingdom). óBefore you leave the Chair, Sir, I would like to recall what I said at the executive meeting yesterdayónamely, that I hope all the delegations will agree that the text of our resolutions should be communicated to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations for his information.

The Chairman. óThe meeting agreed to that course being taken. (M. Berenger took the Chair.)

M. H. Berenger (Honorary Chairman) (Translation]. óI should be failing in my duty of gratitude if I did not first express to Mr. Myron C. Taylor, and to you all, my feelings of profound emotion when I heard the friendly references made first by Lord Winterton and secondly by Mr. Myron C. Taylor. However much my own personal modesty may suffer, I am bound to recognise that I have the honour to represent here a great country with a great history, and that it is to France that the words of my very distinguished colleagues are addressed. Quite simply and quite sincerely, I should like to say that, in my long political career, both national and international, no tribute has ever moved me more deeply, because I realise that we are engaged here upon a great work of human brotherhood and international charity, and the French representative could not but be deeply moved by the references made to his country and himself. I thank you all.

I should like now to express the views of my Government. On behalf of the Government of France, which appointed me specially as Ambassador to preside over its delegation at this Intergovernmental Committee, I have unreservedly accepted the resolutions unanimously adopted for the purpose of giving effective and continuous help to refugees from Germany (including Austria).

France will collaborate fully in this work in future as she has collaborated fully in the past, since 1933, with the League of Nations organs. The French Republic thus remains faithful to its historic traditions of assistance to exiles and of international sympathy.

We agree with the view expressed by Mr. Myron C. Taylor, on behalf of the President of the United States of America, that this session at Evian is only the beginning of a great collective effort, which will be continued forthwith in a more and more practical form at a further meeting to be held in London on August 3rd next under the auspices of His Britannic Majesty's Government and, indeed, of the whole British people.

The French delegate therefore thanks Mr. Myron C. Taylor, Lord Winterton and M. Costa du Rels for their sympathetic references to the French Government. I shall regard it as a duty to report those references immediately on my return to Paris to the President of the Republic and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who only this morning expressed his full approval of the work done here by the Intergovernmental Committee. France is indeed proud to have been chosen by the United States Government as the channel for giving actual expression to the initiative taken by the President of the United States. She is truly gratified to have been able in this beautiful setting of mountain and lake to prove, by the loyalty of her republican institutions and the orderline ss of her democracy, her ability to receive all the countries of the world, and to guarantee them the fullest material and moral amenities for their intergovernmental deliberations on behalf of the peace of the whole world, the independence of all countries, and the freedom of humanity everywhere.

 

I am sure we will all desire to express our grateful appreciation of the services rendered at this session, which had necessarily to be rather hastily improvised, but which nevertheless has been even a technical success, by the United States delegationóI refer to Mr. Pell, Mr. Brandt, and Mr. McDonald. With regard to Mr. McDonald, we all appreciate the distinguished services he has rendered for several years past in the work which has now been raised to a place of honour by the President of the United States. I think we might pass a resolution to that effect.

The proposal was adopted unanimously.

The Honorary Chairman [Translation]. óI must not fail to recall the valuable work done by the. Chairmen of our two Sub-Committees, M. Hansson and Lieut. -Colonel White. These two Sub-Committees had a very difficult and delicate task to accomplish in a very short space of tr^e. We are glad to have had the co-operation of the distinguished Head of the Nansen Officer I wish to propose that the Committee should express its gratitude to M. Hansson.

I would also ask Mr. Stirling to transmit to Lieut. -Colonel White, whose absence we must regret, our appreciation of the work he did in so short a space of time. We are glad to have seen Australia taking so important a part in the work of the Intergovernmental Committee; we feel that this is a good augury and a promise for the future of the work set on foot by the United States Government. We welcome this demonstration of intercontinental collaboration.

I also wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to Sir Neill Malcolm for his invaluable co-operation.

Last, but not least, in order that I may conclude the brief duties that have been entrusted to me in closing this session, I should like to propose that all members of the Intergovernmental Committee should rise to express to His Excellency Mr. Myron C. Taylor our feeling of gratitude and admiration for the wisdom, courage and strength he has shown in discharging the great task entrusted to him by the President of the United States.

(M. Berenger's remarks were received with acclamation.)

The Honorary Chairman [Translation]. óAt the opening of our session, we sent a telegram to President Roosevelt. It is not necessary, therefore, to repeat that manifestation. I am sure, however, that we should all desire to emphasise the novelty and originality of what has taken place here. This is the first time that the United States has agreed to take part in intergovernmental action going beyond the limits of the United States itself. I would like to ask His Excellency Mr. Myron C. Taylor to be good enough to convey to President Roosevelt an assurance of our collaboration and our desire to see the work which arose from his idealistic conception assume the form of actual reality.

Before closing this meeting, I am sure I shall have the support of all members of the Committee in informing the representatives of the Press how much we have appreciated the manneródiscreet and yet far-reaching, if one may combine those two adjectivesóin which they have presented our work to the different countries of the world. Their task was a delicate one. We desired to offer offence to none but to help all, and the Press had therefore to play its part in the carrying out of a piece of work of which the object was to bring about unity and not disunity. I have been very gratified to observe how well we have been understood. On behalf of the Intergovernmental Committee, therefore, we offer our thanks to the representatives of the Press, the kings and creators of public opinion.

(The meeting rose.)

(The session was concluded.)