A MAGISTRATE ON REFUGEES
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—It is reported that Mr. H. Metcalfe, the Old Street magistrate, on August 19th sentenced two men and one woman (who is expecting a child) to six months' hard lahour for having landed in this country without leave ; and that he said : " The way stateless Jews from Germany are pouring in from every port of this country is becoming an outrage. I intend to en- force the law to the fullest. The policy adopted by this country, and, if I may say so, it is a wise policy, is to punish sternly aliens coming into the country illegally. It is not merely taking them by the scruff of the neck and throwing them out."
Mr. Metcalfe is doubtless upholding the law in passing what to many people will seem a savage sentence. But is it not unfortunate that an English magistrate should think fit to accentuate the misery of these refugees by publicly offering such a comment on their misdemeanour ? Cannot Mr. M.. t- calfe feel even a faint sympathy with the appalling plight of these victims of a terrible persecution?—Yours faithfully,
GEORGE E. KAmm.
21 King's Gardens, West End Lane, N.W. 6.
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