and other conditions are different from those to which they have been accustomed. While, therefore, big-scale settlement can make a contribution to the general sclution, I am very doubtful whether, during the years immediately following the war, it can play a substantial part, except in the case of peasant refugees. So far as Jews are concerned, it must certainly be preceded by a thorough training, and accompanied by a determination to stick to the land. An important exception must be made in the case of settlement in Palestine. There the scope is not confined to agricultural settlement, and even in the agricultural field religious and racial fervour, supported by first-class organisation, has achieved a very large measure Of success. Finance hitherto has not been a difficulty, since the community as a whole has been willing to provide the necessary funds on a very generous scale, and will no doubt be willing to do so in the future. The difficulty in Palestine arises from the fact that absorption is determined by political and economic factors. It is to be hoped that, so far as these will allow, Palestine will make its full contribution. 12. The Voluntary Organisations. So far little has been said about the voluntary organisations and their part in the post-war solution. In the term "voluntary" are included three types. First, there are voluntary workers who receive no remuneration for their services, or remuneration much below their market value; second, there are voluntary organisations which depend entirely on voluntary sources of revenue, but which maintain in addition to voluntary workers a highly efficient paid staff; and third, there are voluntary organisations which derive part of their funds from State grants, and part from private sources. All three classes were doing refugee work before the war, and they are still doing it in many countries, according to the opportunities open to them. The war has seen some development of the third class, and I believe that after the war there will be much scope for further developments along these lines. During the emergency period, and later, voluntary workers can play a very large part both in the relief of distress and in the solution of refugee problems. They bring to their work a human element often absent from Govermment Departments. They are not lettered to the same extent by rules and regulations, and they establish individual contacts which a busy official has not the time to make. Apart from the purely voluntary service they give, they are usually economical in their methods, and the reputations they have established enable them to tap private sources of revenue with which to supplement State or international finance. They are often quicker in the field than State agencies. It is therefore essential that their help should be enlisted and encouraged to the utmost extent. At the same time, it will be necessary, especially during the early period, to coordinate and to exercise some measure of control over their efforts, so as to avoid overlapping, confusion and waste. In the early stages, and for relief purposes, this will be the business of the Relief Organisation. In some areas and for some purposes, this Orgsnisation may find itself able to use a particular organisstion as its recognised agency, and to finance through it certain activities for which it is responsible. Financial assistsnce would be accompanied by a measure of control, which could be readily arranged between the Relief Organisation and the Voluntary body. |