13. Finance. The solution of the short-term problem and of the long-term problem will each involve large sums of money. The combined cost is likely to run into hundreds of millions of pounds. Where is the money coming from? There Seem to be the following potential sources: . (a. Charitable contributions from the ~ub- Private sources (a) Charitable contributions from the public or particular communities (b) Contributions from the relatives of refugees. (c) Contributions from the refugees themselves. Public sources (d) State revenues. (e) International funds. I will take the private sources first. (a) After the last war very large sums of money were contributed by the public, especially by the people of the U.S.A., towards the relief of distress. Before the present war large sums were contributed, though not on the same scale; in particular, very generous gifts were made by the Jews for the assistance of their co-religionists. Indeed, up to the entry of the U.S.A. into the war, very large sums continued to be raised in that country through the United Jewish Appeal. The flow of contributions to refugee organisations in other countries was very greatly reduced by the war, but it has not entirely ceased, even for refugee purposes pure and simple. The total stream has almost certainly increased, but it is diverted into more channels, and spread over many more fields. Its volume has necessarily been affected by the drastic changes in individual incomes and in conditions which the war has caused, and since the effect is cumulative, the longer the War lasts the more will this source be reduced. When hostilities cease, the changeover from war to peace industry is likely to have a still greater effect. While, therefore, there is no reason to suppose that the fountains of charity will dry up, or that the outflow will not be considerable and continuous, it is certain that they can only make a partial contribution towards the total that will be required. It is desirable that there should be co-ordination in the anppeal for and collection of funds, as in the use of them when obtained, but this will not be an easy matter. There is one aspect of the case Which may be mentioned. An extremely valuable form of private assistance is the system of guarantee, by Which a guarantor accepts whole or partial financial responsiblity for a particulsr refugee, sometimes giving him hospitality, sometimes direct financial aid, and sometimes both. This is a system particularty suitable for ren who have lost their parents or have been separated from (b) Apart from the contributions which relatives of refugees have made towards funds for general purposes, they have given assistance earmarked for the benefit of particular individuals. The gift may be for maintenance or for training, or, more often, for emigration. Sometimes it is spontaneous, sometimes it is encouraged by persuasion or legitimate pressure by the refugee organisation concerned. Some voluntary bodies have shown much efficiency in this respect. The Joint Distribution Committee |