[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR, —Dr. G. F. McCleary's
interesting article in your issue of January. 13th on the economic problem of refugees reminds me forcibly of some scenes I witnessed in the South of France this summer. As a journalist I sought the opportunity of visiting a number of Basque refugee camps there, and it was indeed tragic to see men who before the civil war were doctors, lawyers, architects and industrialists, big and small, of every type, not to mention skilled mechanics, idly awaiting their turn of duty at the routine camp jobs of sweeping, chopping firewood, washing up, mending the shoes of their fellows, &c. Surely it would be more satisfactory to allow these awkward " labourers " to use their special knowledge and ability in their own professions to the mutual benefit of the country sheltering them and the refugees themselves.
One very encouraging feature was the excellent system of, education which had been established in the camps for Basque children. From an examination of their work I should say that they were considerably in advance of children of the same age in this country. But, once again, the question arose in my mind : to what use will these children have the oppor- tunity of putting their knowledge unless a clement form of government enables them to return to their country?
My own feeling is that this refugee problem, which, with the advance of German imperialism, must increase, will in the end present a situation which may eventually undermine the present economic system, since it would seem that those who are best fitted to initiate new forms of enterprise and develop them are being debarred from work in increasing numbers.
The British people do not appreciate this problem fully, for the simple reason that we have comparatively few refugees with us, and those who are here arc carefully spread about the country; the full nature of the problem can only be appre- ciated when one sees these refugees in massed numbers.— Yours faithfully, T. J. LOVELL.
5 Dulwich Wood Park, London, S.E. 19.
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