§ Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister what provisions are being made to secure the carrying on of the humanitarian work formerly performed by the Nansen office?
§ Mr. ButlerThis subject was fully considered by the Sixth Committee of the Nineteenth Assembly of the League of Nations. On the proposal of the committee, the Assembly adopted a resolution providing that a High Commissioner of the League of Nations should be constituted to deal with refugees hitherto coming under the Nansen International Office and the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees coming from Germany. These two offices are to be wound up and their functions transferred to the892W new High Commissioner as from 31st December, 1938.
In a further resolution the Assembly appointed Sir Herbert Emerson, G.C.I.E., K.C.S.I., C.B.E., lately Governor of the Punjab, High Commissioner for a period of five years from the 1st January, 1938. His headquarters will be in London.
I am arranging for a copy of the report of the Sixth Committee to the Assembly, which gives full details of the duties of the new High Commissioner, to be placed in the Library of the House.