Evian Conference Research Articles

Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees

Formed at the Evian Conference in July, 1938, by 31 of the 32 participating states, the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees for the first five years of its existence was charged with responsibility for 1) persons in Germany and Austria who had to emigrate on account of political opinions, religious beliefs or racial origin and 2) persons in this category who had left their country of origin but had not yet settled permanently elsewhere. Involuntary migrants from the Sudeten area were added to the scope of the Committee's work after the annexation of that territory to Germany. Prior to the outbreak of the war, approximately 240,000 out of 400,000 refugees were settled.

The Evian Conference and the Intergovernmental Committee

1. To consider what steps can be taken to facilitate the settlement in other countries of refugees from Germany (including Austria). The term political refugees, for the purposes of the present meeting, is intended to include persons who desire to leave Germany as well as those who have already done so. The Conference would of course take due account of the work now being done by other agencies in this field and would seek means of supplementing the work done by them. 2. To consider what immediate steps can be taken, within the existing immigration laws and regulations of the receiving countries, to assist the most urgent cases. It is anticipated that this would involve each participating government furnishing, in so far as may be practicable, for the strictly confidential information of the Committee, a statement of its immigration laws and practices and its present policy regarding the reception of immigrants. It would be helpful for the Committee to have a general statement from each participating government of the number and type of immigrants it is now prepared to receive or that it might consider receiving.

Evian Conference on Political Refugees

Evian Conference on Political Refugees