WORK FOR REFUGEES
By NORMAN BENTWICH
A YEAR ago the Government began to correct the unhappy it muddle which was made, after the collapse of France, in its policy towards the refugees from Nazi oppression. At the outset of the war, it had drawn a clear distinction between the refugees and " enemy aliens " in the ordinary sense. The Alien Tribunals, composed of judges and leaders of the bar, which examined the case of every adult, classified over 6o,000 as loyal and reliable. These refugees were then freed from restrictions imposed on alien enemies ; and another 6,000 were placed in an intermediate category, subject to certain restrictions but free from internment. Large numbers of the men and women were absorbed in industry and other forms of the national effort ; and 3,000 of the younger men enlistFcl in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps.
Last summer, in the stress of the national crisis, a policy of general internment of all males over 16, and of those adult women who were not freed from all restrictions, was initiated. It was not fully carried out ; but 27,00o persons were interned. Public opinion quickly changed, however, and the Govern- ment reverted slowly but surely to the original principles. It issued a series of White Papers providing for the con- sideration of applications for the release of refugees in certain categories, and appointed fresh tribunals to consider the applications.
As a result of these measures, and the continued efforts of the refugee organisations, the number of interned German and Austrian refugees in England has been, reduced to about 3,000. A larger number, who, during the period of stress, were transported from England to the Dominions of Canada and Australia, are still confined. The process of release has proved more difficult for these groups, because the Governments of the Dominions, which had received them as Prisoners of War, were unwilling to carry out any general liberation. Over 1,000 who are within the categories of release laid down by the Home Government have been brought back to England and set at liberty. More are on their way. The rest are differentiated treatment from Prisoners of War, but remain interned.
It is notable that, of those who were interned and released ./1 England, over 500 were in the class of persons holding key Positions in industry, 700 were expert in agriculture, 36o distinguished in science, and over too eminent in arts or letters. The largest category was composed of aged and inva- lids; and nearly i,000 were set free because of special hardship. The Government, during the last year, has manifested its sympathy for the refugees, not only by returning to its original Policy, but by a steady increase of its financial help to the refugee bodies. It was realised,. in the early months of the war, that it would not be possible for the Jewish and Christian Councils to maintain the burden of supporting the thousands in need of help. At the end of 1939, the Government under- took to make a grant to them of a part of the maintenance of the refugees in England, provided that the organisations, for their part, made a further effort to raise funds. The policy of internment aggravated the burden, because of the number of fresh persons, particularly women, thrown upon the help of the refugee-organisations, owing to the arrest of the male who was the breadwinner. The Government then, last summer, revised its conditions of help, and undertook to bear one-half of the approved expenditure without regard to the limit originally prescribed. That extension of help proving inadequate, at the end of last year it went a step further ; it undertook to contribute, during the war, the whole amount paid for the maintenance of refugees, at the rates paid to the unemployed, and three-quarters of the expenditure on adminis- tration, welfare work and emigration. The voluntary bodies made supplementary grants for medical aid and approved expenses, and for special classes such as academic workers, students and children in boarding-schools. The total assist- ance given by Government in the period front January, 1940, to July, 1941, amounted to £770,000 ; the voluntary bodies, during that time, spent £350,000.
During this year there has been again a steady and increas- ing absorption of the adult refugees in various forms of the national effort. As a result, the monthly average of expendi- ture for maintenance, &c., which reached £70,000 in the first quarter of 1940, has fallen to £40,000 ; and while the number of persons assisted averaged 12,000 in 1940, it has fallen to less than 8,000. The largest part of those are women. Only seven per cent. of the adult males receive financial assistance.
The Government has set up an international Labour Exchange to assist the absorption of the refugees in work. The number of work-permits given monthly during the first half of this year rose to 3,300. There has been a steady absorption in factories engaged in war-production. A number of women also, who came over originally as domestic servants, have found more immediately useful work as machinists in tailoring- factories and in clerical posts. Over 1,000 men who had agri- cultural training are engaged in agriculture and afforestation. The number of refugees enrolled in the Pioneer Corps has risen to over 5,000. The least satisfactory result has been in the absorption of the doctors and dentists. While the Govern- ment has relaxed the regulations with regard to the engagement of foreign doctors, less than 25o out of the 75o have been able to find posts. Last month the Government instituted the general registration of all aliens at liberty, with a view to their employment ; so that there is a prospect, in the next quarter, that all who are fit for work will become self-supporting.
Recently a deputation of the refugee bodies, Jewish and Christian, waited on the Under-Secretary at the Home Office, and discussed further measures to facilitate the integration of the refugees in the national struggle. All the recommendations of the deputation were sympathetically received. They asked particularly that the procedure for certifying qualified refugees for work in war-factories should be simplified, so that their skill may be adequately used. Many of the younger persons have received training in the Government centres, and it is desirable that, when qualified, they should have an opportunity of using their knowledge. There has been considerable agitation, amongst some of the voluntary bodies, for according to the refugees found to be loyal as a class a special status as " friendly aliens." That proposal bristled with legal difficul- ties ; but the point that was pressed, and, it is hoped, will be accorded, is that a statement shall be made, with the fullest authority of the Government, that those who have been certified as victims of Nazi oppression-should be given by local bodies, employers of labour and trades unions, full opportunity for work in the national effort.
The contrast which has been brought about in the attitude to the refugees since the last year is striking.. Today the Government is whole-heartedly co-operating with the philan- thropic bodies in securing the greatest possible employment of the friendly aliens who are recognised as allies.
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