BRITISH " REFUGEES " IN ENGLAND
Sm,—There are a couple of thousand Britishers here who fled from Germany before the war. Some even managed to come to this country during the war. There are many British widows of Germans and British women who have lost touch with their German husbands now prisoners in Russia or Poland. Most of these women and theirs children are underfed and destitute. They have no legal claim on us, but surely a- moral one. As for the Britishers who arrived in England, some found jobs, mostly unsuitable, usually temporary ; they are losing them as demobilisation- proceeds. Many are supported by public or private charity. All have lost their homes, belongings and sources of income, either by confiscation, bombing, robbery or other means. Some are entitled to pensions, royalties, interest, rents, claims on debt, mortgages, &c., in Germany. None is entitled to an–old-age pension here ; none allowed to write to Germany on business matters, still less to go there
and look after his affairs, or even succour German relations. majority of the married men have German wives.)
Is it not time that something were done to help these, our own people? True, they can register their_claims with the Custodian of Enemy Property (Board of Trade). Doubtless many have, and the forms are accumulating in pigeon-holes. Let us hope that there will not be a repetition of the so-called settlement of claims such as occurred after (a long time after) the 1914-18 war. Now those British " refugees " who need assistance could be helped if =instalment were paid on bona fide claims, and thus become self-supporting and self-respecting again, or their lot improved. Incidentally not a few would come off Public Assistance and so spare the tax-payers' pockets. - Perhaps the best way to settle the problem would be for them to get together and form an association to look after their
(The interests and urge action.—Yours faithfully, L. HAMILTON. 77 Ladbroke Grove, W.
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