It’s not as if the Peace Prize was never used to court
Useful and important political or social agendas.
However, to dwell on these might unjustly thwart
The prize’s mission and belittle its significance.
The Nansen International Office for Refugees
Was to be disbanded when the need was met,
But the work with refugees never ceased:
It moved from one disgorging country to the next.
The Office took this prize for their broad work
With Armenians displaced by Turkey, and also Jews
And others from Germany and Russia, a patchwork,
Given passports, visas, supplies and missing person news.
Employment, housing, trade work – help of all kinds was begun,
The Office then became the High Commission for Refugees in London.
June Edvenson 