International > International assistance to refugees > August 25th 1938

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[Communicated to the Assembly,
the Council and the Members of
the League.]
Official No.: Am2i7m 1938.XII.
Geneva, August 25th, 1938.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES
Note by the Secretary-General
In accordance with the resolution adopted by the Council on May 14th, 1938, the Secretary-
General has the honour to transmit herewith to the Assembly:
(1) The report of the Council Committee appointed to draw up a Plan for International
Assistance to Refugees (page 1);
(2) The replies received from Governments up to August 24th, 1938, to Circular Letter
No. 98.1938.XII, dated June 9th, 1938, transmitting the report of the Council Committee
to them for their observations (page 3);
(3) The detailed report he was instructed by the Council to prepare, after consultation
with the President of the Governing Body of the Nansen Office and the High Commissioner
for Refugees coming from Germany, on the basis of the proposals contained in the report
of the Council Committee (page 4).
1. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO DRAW UP A PLAN FOR
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES, ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON
MAY 14TH, 1938
I
The Committee appointed by the Council on January 28th, 1938, in pursuance of the
resolution adopted by the Assembly at its eighteenth ordinary session regarding the preparation
of a plan for assistance to refugees, met in Paris on February 14th and 15th, 1938, and at Geneva
during the hundred-and-first session of the Council.1 The Committee heard statements by the
High Commissioner for Refugees coming from Germany and the President of the Governing Body
of the Nansen International Office for Refugees. It also noted the invitation addressed by the
United States Government to a number of Governments in regard to the setting-up of a special
committee, composed of representatives of a number of Governments, to deal with certain aspects
of the refugee problem. The proposals mentioned hereunder are not intended to prejudice or to
conflict with the work of the aforesaid committee.
From the information laid before the Committee, it appears that the number of refugees
recognised as such by the League of Nations is approximately 600,000. In the case of the so-called
Nansen refugees, emigration could only afford a partial solution, on account of the insufficiency
of the capital available and the limited number of outlets. As was suggested in the special report
submitted in 1936 by the President of the Nansen Office (document A.27.1936.XII), the real
solution of the problem is rather to be found in the absorption of such refugees by their countries
of refuge. Such absorption would appear to be already in progress, and, in the nature of things,
must proceed in future even more rapidly.
As regards the refugees from Germany, emigration and settlement in oversea countries are
proceeding. Of approximately 150,000 refugees who have so far left Germany, close upon 120,000
have already reached the countries in which they are to settle permanently.
Although the problems raised by the existence of two categories of refugees are of a different
character, it would appear that both can be solved within a limited time.
II
1. The Committee noted that, under the decisions taken by the Assembly at its eighteenth
ordinary session, the Nansen International Office for Refugees and also the Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees coming from Germany, are to be discontinued as from the end of 1938
but that, for the reasons set out above, the problem of refugees recognised as such by the League
1 This Committee consists of the representatives of Bolivia, the United Kingdom and France.
Series of League of Nations Publications
O o h -<
XII .B. INTERNATIONAL BUREAUX
1938. XII.B.3.
3699 — S.d.N. 1.665 (F.) x.445 (A.). 9/38. Imp. Kundig.