§ Mr. Lathanasked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the survey by the International Refugee Conference of the possibilities of refugee settlement in San Domingo; and the proposed consultations between the late 1000W President of San Domingo with the refugee organisations?
§ Mr. ButlerThe report of the Commission of Inquiry which was sent to San Domingo by President Roosevelt's Advisory Committee on Refugee Settlement is now being prepared and will be issued as soon as possible. Pending its receipt I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.
§ Mr. Lathanasked the Prime Minister whether the Inter-Governmental Committee on Refugees proposes to issue a report on its activities and, if so, when; and whether, in the meantime, by way of an interim report, a statement could be made of the total number of refugees who have been enabled to emigrate from Germany through the efforts of this committee?
§ Mr. ButlerThe reports of the Inter-Governmental Committee are prepared for the confidential information of the Governments represented on it and, while it is for the committee itself to take a decision on this point, I understand that a report is not likely to be published at present. Descriptions of the committee's work are published after its periodical meetings.
The committee's task is one of negotiation to improve the conditions of emigration from the country of origin and to develop opportunities for permanent settlement. The committee does not deal with individual cases. I am unable to state the number of refugees who have already benefited from its activities, but there has been a considerable increase in the entry of refugees into various countries since the committee was formed. While the arrangements contemplated for the improvement of the conditions of emigration from the country of origin have not yet been put into force, substantial progress has been made towards the development of opportunities for settlement.