Washington, Nov. 19. PRESIDENT Roosevelt announced yesterday that, on humanitarian grounds, he had proposed a six months' extension for the 12,000 to 15,000 German and Austrian refugees, who were at present in the United States on visitors' permits.
The President informed Miss Frances Perkins, the Secretary of Labour, that it would be a nel and inhuman thing to compel the refugees to return to Germany to face possible mistreatment, concentration camps or other persecution.
He added, however, that the Administration did not at present contemplate letting down ithe immigration barriers to permit the entrance of German refugees.
"German pride" is considered here to be the reason for the recall of Dr.
Hans Dieckhoff, the German Ambas sador in Washington.
It is suggested that Germany could hardly countenance the retention of Dr. Dieckhoff in Washington, in view of the recent summons by President Roosevelt of the American Ambassador and Commercial Counsellor from Berlin.
Well-informed circles anticipate a lengthy period of poor German-American relations, and foresee no improvement until the question of Germany's persecuted minorities is set-tied.
High circles are aware that this is an occasion where Great Britain and the United States are not following an exactly parallel policy.
This is regretted, especially there is no desire here to embarrass Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, in his policy of appeasement.
The United States Government, however, has never been committed to this policy and it is pointed out that, while conditions in Germany continue as at present, no United} States Government, answerable to Catholic, Jewish and Negro minorities numbering 36,000, can talk of appeasing Herr Hitler.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.