SOUTH AFRICAN EFFORT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23918, 9 April 1943, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN EFFORT

SPEECH BY GENERAL SMUTS

DEPENDENCE ON U.S. FOR SUPPLIES (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, April 7. “It will not be dong before South African troops have again taken their place in the North African battle,” said the Prime Minister of South Africa (General Smuts), addressing the Senate. He added that it had been decided to convert the South African forces into artnoured forces, which meant the recalling of the Ist Division, not only for 'leave but also for training. Some of them had already returned to North Africa.

“South Africa is in the war to the end and will continue to do its best to secure victory," said General Smuts. “South Africa has to rely on the United States more and more for exports, but it should be remembered that a great number of other countries also have to depend on America for supplies. The question of supply remains one of the Union’s principal difficulties. “The American Government realised that a stage would be reached where American Industry would be slowed down because of the inability of other countries to pay for goods supplied. It was not merely philanthropy that caused the United States to undertake the lease-lend system. It was probably introduced for two reasons:— (1) To help the Allies; and (2) to keep American industry going. It was a magnificent gesture and has made' possible many things which would otherwise have been impossible. “The United States Government has taken into account the Union’s contribution to the general cause. There is no question of providing America with naval or military bases. I am quite sure the United States would not ask any such concession.

"South Africa has reached a stage where, without turning from the main problem of winning the war, it can give attention to what is going to happen after the war. The war may end suddenly—although I do not expect it will be to-morrow—and catch the Union unprepared.’’

BRITISH HELP TO REFUGEES

FIGURES GIVEN BY MR CHURCHILL

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 7. . Mr Churchill, answering a question m the House of Commons about the help given refugees by the British Empire before and during the war, said that the number of refugees from Germany and Austria in Britain the outbreak of the war was approximately 55,000. A large number of these had children, and there were also more than 13,000 child refugees admitted without parents. In addition, nearly 10.000 Czechoslovak nationals had found refuge in Britain during the year preceding the war. In the period,. 1940 to 1942, alien refugees from enemy-occupied countries totalled 63,000, including about 20.000 seamen, but excluding a very large number who came as members of the Allied forces.

More than 18,000 legal Immigrants reached Palestine between April 1, 1939, and September 30, 1942. The total number of Jewish immigrants was about 38,000. The great majority of these came ftom central and eastern Europe. The Government was prepared, provided the necessary transport was available, to continue to admit to Palestine Jewish children with a proportion of adcompanying adults up to the limits of immigration permissible for the five-year period ending March 31, 1944. This was approximately 29,000. India had provided accommodation for more than 400,000 evacuees. The bulk were of Indian origin, but large numbers were from the Balkans, Malta, and many other areas. The total number of refugees, evacuees, and additional population in the form of internees and prisoners of war maintained in British territory and Palestine (excluding the Dominions and the very large numbers who had come as members of the Allied forces) was 582,710. Mr Churchill said that the resources of Britain had been strained to the utmost in maintaining her traditions of asylum and hospitality while subjected to enemy attacks. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) told the House that the forthcoming British-American conference in Bermuda on rescue victims of the Nazi terror would naturally include any measures for the relief of refugees, in addition to those already operating.