Annual report for year, 1945-6
1946-04-15 038-0012-003 ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR, 1945-6 The National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief and Basque Children's Trust presents its Annual Report for the ninth year of its work for Spaniards and Basque children who still remain in this country. In the interests of economy it is...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
15 April 1946
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/1F4876D3-2883-42A3-94EE-06FE4C8C36AD http://hdl.handle.net/10796/6B8CD291-3632-43E1-9F78-EC6C787400E4 |
| Summary: | 1946-04-15
038-0012-003
ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR, 1945-6 The National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief and Basque Children's Trust presents its Annual Report for the ninth year of its work for Spaniards and Basque children who still remain in this country. In the interests of economy it is desirable to condense the Report as much as possible. Since our last Report we have suffered an irreparable loss in the sudden death of our beloved Chairman, Miss Eleanor Rathbone, M.P. She was one of the small band who were responsible for rescuing 4,000 Basque children in 1937, and she has through all these years given a great deal of time and thought to their welfare, and to the relief of Spanish Republicans wherever they may be. Her outstanding position in Parliament, her wide knowledge of Refugee problems, and her deep humanitarian outlook, have not only given the Committee a position it could never otherwise have attained, but have also been our chief inspiration in carrying on the task whatever other problems the war has brought to us. Right up to the end she was urging us to raise funds to help the Spanish Refugees in France, and never spared herself in dealing with individual cases that were brought to her. The Executive Committee unanimously elected Lady Layton, who has given devoted service for so long, as Chairman in her place. We regret also to report the death of Miss Elizabeth Montagu-Pollock, a member of the Committee and the former Hon. Secretary of the British Committee for Refugees from Spain. SPANISH ADULTS All the adult Spaniards, with the exception of three who are invalids, are now employed. The scope of our work has widened with the arrival in this country of Spaniards who served with the British Forces in Europe, Africa, Egypt, etc. For them during the past months, whether demobilised or still in the Forces, there have been many problems which they have looked to us to solve, and we have done this wherever possible. Spanish Republicans in Lancashire Prison Camps. Efforts have been made by this Committee through Mr. Wilfrid Roberts and other Members of Parliament to bring about the long delayed release of these men. As a result we are glad to report the majority have joined their families in France. Spanish Republicans in the South of France. A special appeal was made this winter on behalf of these men, women and children, who were physically unable to join the French Resistance Movement, and were homeless and desperately in need of help. As a result £1,000 was handed over to the Friends Relief Service, whose Organisation was on the spot and able to administer the relief effectively. They have gratefully acknowledged this help which has gone to the people in the form of food, clothing and medical aid. BASQUE BOYS AND GIRLS There are now 383 Basque Refugees (239 boys and 144 girls) in the country, compared with the 408 last year. We are pleased to report that 13 boys and 6 girls have joined their parents in France, Chile and Venezuela. Twenty-six of the older girls have married, some to Spaniards, some to British and Americans, and one to a Pole. We much regret to report three deaths (2 girls and 1 boy); one girl and the boy died of tuberculosis. The health of the young people on the whole is satisfactory, but one further case of T.B. has developed amongst the older girls (contacts have been X-rayed). It is hoped that with the medical care she is receiving she will completely recover. Many of the older boys and girls are self-supporting, but there are a large number still in the training stage and unable to earn sufficient to maintain themselves.
292/946/38/12(III) |
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