That the passage of the Labour motion in the House of Commons, deploring the treatment suffered by certain racial, religious and Political minorities in Europe, and welcoming immediate concerted action among all nations to secure'a common policy, will do nothing. to better Anglo-German relations must be taken for granted. Yet no self-respecting body of men could do otherwise than adopt! such a motion, even though it were proposed by the Opposition, and the fact of its passage at such a juncture is suMeient proof of the feeling which certain events in Germany has aroused not only in Great Britain but in many other countries. A number of corres-
Pondents have written to this journal complaining that editorial comment on the subject of the treatment of the Jews in Germany has been confined to expressing condolence with them in their sad plight, without criticism of the action taken by the German authorities, The answer to that is that such editorial critic ism would have been a work of supererogation, for there is not one man, with a Proper appreciation of justice, and the bowels of compassion, who has not already formed that criticism in his own mind, not one who. does not believe that even in' Germany the mass of the people deeply deplore what has been happening. The real question with which the world at large is confronted is what shall be done to assist these victims of a wholly irrational and sedulously fostered hatred? The day is long past since countries could extend their hospitality to refugees {from persecution in other lands, as was done with such freedom to the Hugenots and the emigres from the French revolution. The labour markets of the various nations ad-
Jacent to Germany are in such a condition that the influx of more labour would have a most serious effect, and might, because of the powerful inspiration of ' self-interest, actually lead to a spread of that anti-Semitism which it is so desirable to restrict. Thus,_ sympathize as deeply as they might, such countries as Belgium, France, Great Britain' and Holland cannot do more' than accept a. few of the hundreds of thousands who desire flee from the present terror and the wrath to come.
The last sessions of the Evian Conference leave to no greater conclusion than that something would have to be done for the Jews. Since then their plight has become very much worse, and the real question with which the Evian' nations now have to deal concerns the immediate alleviation of the lot of the German Jew, and possibly the effecting of preparations against the wider spread of this tragic anti-Semitic movement. The problem bristles with difficulties, not the Toast of which concerns the type of person is sought to help. The fact that the majority of the Jews in Germany are to be found in the towns and cities means that for the most part they are ignorant of agricultural pursuits, and have been devoting their time to commerce. That fact alone stands largely in the way of any proposal to settle them in countries where they could develop the land and obtain a living from the soil.
the very least those who by their youth might be fitted to take the training necessary for such work would require years of instruction, while their elders might never succeed in acquiring the necessary know-fledge. Thus proposals for the settlement of Sows in areas of Kenya, for example, might Serve to deal with those German Jews who already have agricultural knowledge or who might easily acquire it. They would not prove suitable for the remaining and larger proportion of them unfitted for such works or incapable of learning it. Their absorption into the industry and commerce of these nations who may be willing to receive them! presents difficulties which in view of the general world labour situation may prove well nigh insuperable, for, if it is done with-aut due regard to the interest of the nationals Jamongst whom they are to be permitted to live, it may very well bring about that spread lof anti-Semitism which is wholly undesirable. It would indeed be an evil day if attempts {to alleviate present distress merely sowed seed for further and extended trouble for the future, and while it is not suggested that schemes for absorbing the Jews should, therefore, be abandoned, it is urged upon those who watch present' tardiness with considerble and very natural impatience that the Jdimiculties are not only real but very substantial.
What must be the answer to the oficial German contention that what happens to the Jews in Germany is not a matter of international concern? The sentiments of humanity and justice, which have not yet been effectively rooted out from mankind's make-up render it impossible for the rest of the world to ignore what is going on. The very fact that if these people are to be saved they will have to be accommodated by other nations changes the whole question from one, of domestic to one of international importance, and though official Germany may resent much that has been said and printed on the Subject abroad it has to be remembered that the blame is solely theirs. When all the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.