FIRE ON SHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 9

FIRE ON SHIPS.

SMUGGLING OF JEWS. Naval Patrol Of Palestine Coastline. STBICT MEASURES APPLIED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 28. The authorities have empowered patrols to fire on ships from which illegal attempts are made to land immigrants, says a message from Jerusalem. The fines which can be inflicted on captains of such vessels have been increased from £1000 to £10,000. The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, stated in the House of Commons that legal Jewish immigration to Palestine was being continued at a rate of approximately 1000 a month, says a British official wireless message. Britain had every sympathy Jewish refugees, but in recent months there had been a number of attempts to land illegal traffic from foreign ships. The coastguard service in Palestine had been strengthened and a system of marine police patrols wa-s being organised. Pending the organisation of a local preventive service, arrangements were being made for a naval patrol. In addition, the High Commissioner had been authorised to strengthen the provisions of the emigration ordinance relating to the stoppage and forfeiture of suspected vessels and the imposition of penalties on shipowners. Britain took a most serious view of these attempts to contravene the immigration law of Palestine and was determined to check -illegal immigration. The numbers of any Jewish illegal immigrants who in spite of these measures might succeed in entering the country, and who could not be deported, would be deducted from future immigration quotas. RUMOURS DENIED. JEW SETTLERS IN PALESTINE. British Official Wireless. (Received 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, April 28. There is no foundation for rumours which have been repeated in certain newspapers in Egypt and Arabia suggesting the existence of an organised scheme of Jewish settlement in the Aden protectorate. No such scheme is in contemplation.