International > International assistance to refugees > August 1943

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[Communicated to the Council and
the Members of the League.]
Official No.: C.I9.M.I9. 1943. XII.
Geneva, August 1943.
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
TO REFUGEES
Report submitted by Sir Herbert Emerson, G.C.I.E., K.C.S.I., C.B.E.,
High Commissioner for Refugees
April \§th, 1943.
I. Preliminary
This reportJs submitted in accordance with the resolution adopted by the Assembly of the League
of Nations at its nineteenth ordinary session held in September 1938. i have delayed its submission
because of developments relating to the general problems of refugees which occurred towards the end of
1942 and which have only now reached a definite stage. It was desirable that some account of these
should be included in the report.
II. Nansen Refugees
The previous report1 drew attention to the fact that, owing to the extension of Axis occupation on
the European Continent, the connection between the High Commissioner’s office and the colonies of
Russian and Armenian refugees had been severed. With the occupation of the Free French Zone,
communication with Nansen refugee colonies in that territory has also ceased.
After the events of May-June 1940, the office of the High Commissioner’s representative in
France carried on independently from the London office, but with the approval of the Vichy
Government, under the title “ Haut Commissariat pour les Refugies—Service Nansen franyais.”
Subsequently, on January 15th, 1942, this office was abolished and its functions taken over by the
French Foreign Office, which set up for the purpose a new section under the title “ Bureau charge
des Interets des Apatrides.” As already reported, the Vichy Government denounced, on Decem¬
ber 13th, 1941, the Accord franco-beige signed at Geneva on June 30th, 1928. On December 2nd,
1942, the Vichy Government took the further step of notifying the Secretary-General of the League
of Nations of its denunciation of the Convention concerning the International Status of Refugees,
signed in Geneva on October 28th, 1933. This denunciation becomes effective one year after receipt
of the notification—he., on December 2nd, 1943.
In denouncing this diplomatic instrument, the French Government excepted Articles 1 and 2 of
the Convention as well as Chapter XI. Article 1 defines the categories of refugees to which the
Convention is to apply—i.e., Russian, Armenian and assimilated refugees—and Article 2 contains the
obligation to issue travel documents, so-c&lled Nansen passports, which had been the subject of
previous intergovernmental arrangements. Chapter XI contains the usual clauses regulating the
general conditions under which the Convention is to operate—i.e., registration, ratification, denun¬
ciation, etc. It would appear that, in excepting Articles 1 and 2, the Vichy Government intends
1 Document C.25.M.25.1942.XII. ^
Series of League of Nations Publications
XII. B. INTERNATIONAL BUREAUX
1943. XII.B. 1.
S.d.N. 4214 (A.) 9/43. Unwin Brothers Ltd., London.