7 JUNE 1946, Page 2

Report on Refugees

The long report submitted to the Economic and Social Council of U.N.O. by the Special Committee on Refugees and Displaced Persons makes depressing reading. The Committee, established by the Council last February, set to work in London early in April, and has just finished its deliberations. It had intended to work out a draft constitution for a new International Refugees Organisation to be submitted to U.N.O. in September, but did not complete it. There was, in fact, much argument as to whether the new body should be an integral part of U.N.O. or an autonomous body linked with U.N.O. through the Economic and Social Council ; and the majority favoured the second suggestion. From the first it was clear that " political factors underlying the problem made unanimous decisions. impos- sible," and the same old alignment seems to have declared itself— Russia and her satellites against the rest. There was much disagree- ment as to whether the term "refugee " should include the political fugitive. By a majority it was decided that " innocent " political fugitives should be included—those not taking an active part in move- ments against their home Governments—but Yugoslavia, Byelo-russia and Poland took the opportunity to enter into complaints about camps of their exiled nationals. A more cheerful interpolation was a statement from various countries, including some of the Dominions, on their ability to accept immigrants. The Committee decided to ask the Economic and Social Council to approve an interim regime of aid to refugees, since the new I.R.O. cannot begin work before next winter. Meanwhile; 1,675,000 refugees, excluding those in the Far East, await assistance ; and what that means in terms of human misery they alone know.