ANTI-NAZI REFUGEES
SIR,—For some time now the words "Enemy Alien" printed on the Registration Certificate of Refugees from Germany have stigmatised them.
As one of these, I am compelled to utter a protest on behalf of myself and my fellow-refugees against a classifica- tion with professional spies, paid agents or deluded followers of a Government guilty of robbery and crime. We have never had anything in common with such enemies of Britain and we decline the dishonourable implication which the words on our certification convey.
But we protest not only on account of the wording referred to, but also because it seems likely that when the Govern- ment have completed their enqui?), into the bona fides of German refugees, those who are adjudged loyal to Britain will not be allowed to serve this country in the more effective ways, still less in the fighting line.
We German refugees who are the advance guard of all those who opposed Hitler long before European statesmen (with the only exception of Dr. E. Benes) had even grasped the significance of Hiderism ; we who for six years now have foreseen the course events would take and whose warnings, if heeded, could have prevented the second conflagration ; we who with no other weapon than our words and our pens, and without influence, had to oppose two powerful forces— the barbarous Government of Germany and the inertia of the world ; we who have left all for the sake of freedorh: our homes, our friends, our countries ; we protest here and now against the conditions by reason of which we are to be pre- vented at this juncture when the real and decisive struggle with this enemy of human well-being has begun from achiev- ing the crown of our endeavours.
We did not a year ago enlist for the protection of Czecho- Slovakia, nor did we risk our lives in escaping from that unhappy country through the chain of Gestapo in order that we might vegetate here in England, far from decisive scenes, without prospect, useless, perhaps for many years.
Our past experiences give us German refugees the right to fight against an enemy whom we know better than anyone else, and we passionately long to fulfil our obligation.
Those authorities who have in the next few weeks to decide what the refugees shall be allowed to do should remember that many of these will perhaps play an important pan in the new and free Germany that is to be. Our friendships sealed with blood and our links forged in the heat of the struggle would then be of much value in drawing closer the bonds between our peoples, whereas to remain in enforced idleness might only embitter us.
Therefore we plead and demand in the name of those ideals for which Great Britain is fighting and for which we have far longer struggled that we may be enrolled in the great army of those who love freedom, truth and peace! — zo6 Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, Sussex.
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