IMMIGRATION OF ALIENS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 7

IMMIGRATION OF ALIENS

ORGANISATIONS IN AUSTRALIA CONFLICTING STORIES TOLD (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 22. Statements made by the Canberra correspondent of the Sydney “Sun” concerning alleged rackets by alien organisations in immigration have produced a number of conflicting statements in the press this morning. The “Sydney Morning Herald” reports Commonwealth officers in Sydney as saying that it is well known there are two rival organisations in Australia, one representing White Russians, and the other Red Russians. Both are being closely watched by Commonwealth police and members of the Commonwealth Investigation Branch. A high official said it was known that a number of refugees admitted into Australia since the war possessed considerable wealth. The Crown Solicitor (Mr G. A. Watson) said he had no official knowledge of rival organisations or of an immigration racket. Commonwealth Investigation Branch officers said in Canberra that there had been no Commonwealth investigation into the two organisations mentioned. There were several legal organisations in Australia which sponsored immigration. It was true that one migrant had £40,000 in his possesion, which, however, he had declared. The Minister of Immigration (Mr A. A. Calwell) said there were still 200 people in Shanghai with permits to enter Australia. In Shanghai altogether were 15,000 Jewish or part Jewish refugees, of whom 5000 were going to America, 4000 to Palestine, and 3000 back to Europe. Only 700 Australian landing permits had been issued, including those to people who had already reached here and to passengers aboard the steamer Hwalien, formerly the Maori. An official investigation into the bona tides of certain migrants, particularly those from the Far East, has been made by the Commonwealth Investigation Branch, the Customs Department. and the Immigration Department. according to the Canberra correspondent of the Sydney “Sun,’ who claims that following the “Sun’s” disclosure*.;, “the heat has been turned on by the higher ups.” He' says that as usual in similar circumstances a crop of. official denials has been issued, but the facts are on official record. . _ Quoting a corroborative article m the “Sydney Morning Herald,” the “Sun” states that files are in existence showing the personnel of the executive of the Communist and White Russian bodies whose business is assisting the immigration of aliens. The paper cites a suggestion that a special investigator should be sent to Shanghai to ascertain whether any of the immigrants recently admitted collaborated with the Japanese or engaged in black market operations. “When it is revealed that some of these refugees were left uninterned by the Japanese, that any price will be paid for admission to Australia, and that many possess huge sums of money, most people will suspect that the Minister of immigration (Mr A. A. Calwell) may have allowed his sympathy to'Override his judgment,” says a leading article in to-day’s “Sun.” “The check should not be allowed to wait till they have passed our gates—it should be made long before the migrants are allowed to embark at all.”