A few of the younger lawyers have attended American law schools and succeeded in entering the field here. Of the older group who found retraining impractical, some earn their livelihood by looking after the interests of European clients, by serving as consultants on European law, or by acting as intermediaries between refugee clients and American attorneys. The majority, however, have had to leave the profession. Some, after special preparation, became accountants; others took factory or business jobs. During the war many refugee lawyers, like individuals in other professions, found employment in Government service, where their training proved a valuable asset.

THE ARTIST AND THE WRITER

The musician and artist have had less difficulty in adjusting to American conditions because they use an international medium of expression. But not all have been able to find suitable employment or even to remain in their field. The musicians, particularly, have been up against limited job opportunities. Similarly, while some of the artists have managed to exhibit and sell their works, others have been forced to commercialize their art or take other jobs. Some of these believe that there will be greater opportunities for them in their homelands when conditions become more settled, and therefore are planning to return.

Less fortunate have been the refugee writers. Depending as they do upon the intimate knowledge and precise use of language, they can hardly be expected to do as well in a new tongue. Especially is this true of poets, playwrights, and other creative writers. The only recourse of such authors is to have their works translated. On the other hand, writers on historical subjects and current events frequently adapt themselves more easily to the use of English because of the more factual nature of their material and the lesser importance of style.

Outstanding among the distinguished refugees is Thomas Mann.

Nobel Prize laureate and world-famous author, Thomas Mann chose self-exile rather than existence in Hitler's Germany. His personal rejection of Nazi doctrine and distrust of it as a design for living had found public expression as early as 1930, but it was in 1933 after the Reichstag fire that Mann, vacationing in Switzerland with his wife, decided not to return to his homeland.

His anti-Nazi stand met with sharp retaliation. His property was seized, he was stripped of German nationality, and the University of Bonn revoked the honorary degree of doctor of philosophy it had conferred upon him. Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, and France extended hospitality to him, but he found himself spiritually a man without a country, just as technically he was "without papers," and could not settle down in tranquillity of mind to live and work.

Then came a call from an American university, and in 1938 he came to the United States. Several years of distinguished service as visiting lecturer in the humanities at Princeton University followed, during which time he took out his first citizenship papers.

His literary production has continued without interruption since his arrival in this country, and his work, which is translated from German into English, reaches an ever-widening public. In 1941, in his sixty-sixth year, he retired to California to devote himself to his writing.

Representative of the finest qualities to be found among the new arrivals, Thomas Mann has made an outstanding contribution to American life by virtue both of his unsurpassed literary gifts and his strong stand for democratic principles. He is now an American citizen. In response to an invitation from his fellow writers to return, he has stated that he will never again live in Germany. During the years of exile, Germany has become alien to him-a land of anxiety and apprehension. He has recently pointed out the obstacles to understanding between "people who have only witnessed from without the Witches' Sabbath of the Nazis, and those within who have participated in its wild dance."

In addition, strong ties hold him to America. Two of his sons have served in the armed forces, and English-speaking grandchildren are growing up around him. Leading American universities have expressed their affection and esteem by bestowing honorary degrees upon him, and he has built his permanent home along the beautiful California coast, whose protection, he says, enables him to bring to a close his life's work.

Another class of refugee artists to whom language has presented a special handicap is the actors. Many could not find work in their profession, while others who found a place in the theater frequently were restricted to dialect or accent parts, which are generally minor roles. In contrast to the difficulties faced by individuals in other professions, those encountered by the actors have

been due more to circumstances beyond the control of the theater than to the discriminatory attitude of the profession, which has a strong tradition of broad social outlook and tolerance.

A few of the refugee actors have succeeded in gaining a reputation which has assured them top places on the legitimate stage as well as in the movies. It is in Hollywood rather than on Broadway that refugee actors have been able to make use of their talents most fully. The same is true also of producers and directors.

WHAT REFUGEES AND AMERICANS THINK OF EACH OTHER

WHAT THE REFUGEES THINK OF AMERICANS

Interviews and questionnaires obtained by the committee from thousands of refugees throughout the country tell an interesting story of their reaction to America. Coming from countries suffering from a depressed economy because of war conditions, they are struck by the economic abundance, greater conveniences, and luxuries in the United States. Having lived in fear of the Gestapo, they are impressed with the freedom and security found here. They are amazed to discover that Government officials are public servants instead of petty tyrants to be feared and distrusted. Among the other features of American life that provoke their comments are the lack of rigid class lines, the high degree of social mobility, familiarity between employer and employee, the extensive educational and cultural opportunities, and the friendliness, cordiality, informality, and optimism of Americans. They are much impressed with American democracy and liberty, and express great appreciation of the opportunities offered by this country.

Yet they find some of our customs strange and difficult to understand; there are others which they dislike. They express disapproval of the frequent changing of jobs, the lack of thoroughness, the hustle and bustle of life, the lesser regard for orderliness, and the dominating role of money that they believe exist here. They are surprised at the amount of race prejudice, especially at the treatment accorded to the Negro, and appalled at the extent of anti-Semitism in this country. They are particularly disturbed over such practices as restricted neighborhoods, hotels, resorts, and schools. They find it hard to reconcile such practices and attitudes with the principles of democracy. Most of the refugees-about three-quarters— report, however, that they themselves have experienced no discrimination. Of those who did, it is interesting to note, the earlier arrivals experienced more discrimination than those who came in more recent years. This may be explained by the fact that the latter arrived here in a period of full employment.

ONE WOMAN'S APPRAISAL

Following are some of the impressions of America expressed by a cultured German woman in an interview:

"I was first of all impressed by your general fearlessness. Children are not afraid of their parents, students are not afraid of their teachers, men of their bosses. Women don't seem to be afraid of anything or anybody. Nobody closes doors here, or erects fences and walls that might serve as a hostile or discriminating gesture. Even your houses look inviting. * * * People keep their shades up for everybody to look in, and nobody seems disturbed by the fact that his privacy can be violated at any time on the slightest pretext.

"The fact that everything in America is public at first impresses a European as rather indiscreet. This is especially true of your newspapers. Even your most famous, most important men must share their private lives with their fellow Americans. They are under a magnifying glass all the time. The public knows how many socks and ties they own and how they live in general.

* * *

"In the United States dreams are made to come true. The gap between dream and reality is narrow, and while Europeans are often unwilling to bridge it because they feel the result might not live up to their expectations, Americans seem to know no such hesitancy. * * *

You have tre

"If you make a mistake in America, your life isn't ruined. mendous reserves and tremendous room. Americans will greet a new idea or

* * *

*

experience with 'why not try it' and, strange to say, it does not kill them. * * In Europe, on the contrary, every mistake strikes back at you tomorrow. If a European is forced to change his job, he is apt to call himself a failure. But in America most life histories of outstanding citizens show that they have had lots of different jobs in their lives, all varied. *

*

"Another thing that impresses me about this country is the great influence your women wield. This doesn't mean that we don't have outstanding women abroad, but they rarely find such large audiences as, for instance, Mrs. Roosevelt, Dorothy Thompson, and others. I find American women in general far more alert and progressive than European women. * * * What really amazes the foreigner, however, is the way American men have been domesticated. Much as they compete with each other in business, at home they seem to be more or less content to leave the management of their private lives to their wives. * * *""

WHAT AMERICANS THINK OF THE REFUGEES

The general reaction of Americans toward the refugees may be summed up as one of compassion for the victims of persecution seeking a haven here. The refugees report that, on the whole, Americans have shown an attitude of friendliness and helpfulness. As the number of refugees increased, however, a certain amount of antagonism developed. Refugees began to be looked upon as serious competitors, especially by certain professional and wage-earning groups and in certain communities. These fears were allayed with the increased demand for labor brought about by the war.

SOME RESENT COMPETITION

Nevertheless, a certain degree of resentment has persisted in certain quarters and against certain groups of refugees. This is not an uncommon occurrence in American history, since newcomers frequently have been regarded with enmity and accused of possessing undesirable traits and of offering serious competition. American physicians, led by American medical societies, have complained about the potential competition of refugee physicians, especially where the latter have replaced Americans who left for military service. The extent of the competition, however, could not have been great because the total number of refugee physicians, not all of whom were practitioners, was only 3 percent of the number of physicians in America. Moreover, the Nation has been experiencing a dearth rather than a surplus of doctors. It should be noted that many of the eligible refugee physicians joined the armed forces, while others took over the practices of Americans with the understanding that they would relinquish them upon the latter's return. Still others settled in small communities which had no doctor.

Complaints have also been heard about the alleged amassing of wealth by some refugees dealing in the stock market and real estate and engaging in other large business enterprises. The number and effect of refugees in these fields have been greatly exaggerated. Only a very small proportion of them are engaged in Wall Street operations, and a still smaller proportion are nonresident aliens who under the present law are not required to pay a capital-gains tax. The large-scale realestate operations of refugees have been confined to a very few large cities, and the amount of real estate they hold is relatively insignificant. Leading American real-estate operators state that, on the whole, refugees in this field have had quite a stimulating effect on the market.

THE "CAFE SOCIETY" GROUP

Among other charges leveled against the refugees have been the conspicuous display of wealth by the "cafe society" group among them, their arrogance, air of superiority, and ungratefulness, as well as their habit of constantly contrasting unfavorably their condition here with their former social and economic status in Europe. The committee's study indicates that these typical complaints and charges are limited to a few communities and are greatly exaggerated. In most communities the number of refugees is so small that unless attention is drawn to them the community as a whole is hardly aware of their presence.

The refugee "cafe society" group comprises only a small percentage even of the wealthy, who are a very small minority. While arrogance may be found among the refugees, as in any other group, what is interpreted as arrogance may be due to sensitiveness or merely to the difference between European and American social habits. Ungratefulness is definitely the exception rather than the rule. The study indicates that most refugees feel a profound gratitude to America. There may be some Americans who expect the refugees to show continuing humility, gratefulness, and a willingness to accept a low standard of living. This attitude dates back to dealings with immigrants of earlier periods, who were quite unlike the present-day refugees in educational and cultural background.

CONCLUSION

EFFECTS ON AMERICAN LIFE

In conclusion, it is evident that the refugees, making up only an insignificant percentage of the immigrant population and an utterly negligible proportion of the total population of this country, could hardly offer serious competition to Americans or endanger their way of life. On the contrary, they have had a beneficial influence upon this country out of proportion to their numbers. They have had a stimulating effect upon the economic and cultural life of the Nation. In business they have started new types of enterprises, stimulated existing ones, and developed new markets. In industry they have introduced new processes and produced articles hitherto unknown or not manufactured here. Moreover, in both of these fields they have brought in capital and created job opportunities for Americans. A considerable number of refugees, being highly skilled workers, have contributed their skill toward the advancement of various American industries, notably those producing diamonds, jewelry, plastics, textiles, furs, leather goods, and food specialties. In the field of arts and letters they have introduced new forms of expression and significant works; in drama they have created many outstanding and successful plays and motion pictures; in scholarship they have extended the bounds of knowledge; and in science they have made important discoveries.

The refugees have shown unusual adaptability. In a short period of time they have gone a long way toward becoming a part of the Nation, presenting little or no problem to the American community.

THE REFUGEE A WORLD PROBLEM

The end of the war has not meant the end of the refugee problem. Millions, uprooted and displaced by the catastrophe through which the world has just passed, are dispersed all over the earth. Many of these cannot go back to their former homes. This is particularly true of the Jews and a good many of the Poles, Russians, Yugoslavs, and nationals of the former Baltic states. For many of these the only solution seems to be to remain in the present countries or to migrate again. In the case of the Jews, the problem is so great and so complex that bold, far-reaching measures are necessary to solve it. Only by the cooperative effort of all nations can the refugee problem be solved satisfactorily. A step in this direction was taken in 1938 with the creation, at the initiative of the United States, of the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees. Another step was taken in 1943 by the establishment of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), in which the United States again assumed a leading part. The problem in its entirety, however, has not as yet been adequately considered, and a definite program for migration and resettlement has not yet been formulated. In this program the United States, with its tradition of serving as a haven for the oppressed, must play an important role.