Deportation of Chinese

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25903, 8 September 1949, Page 4

Deportation of Chinese

On several occasions in the past the Australian Minister of Immigration (Mr A. A. Calwell) has damaged himself and his Government by inflexibly carrying out, or trying to carry out, his policy of repatriating Asiatic refugees. His latest decision to deport a number of Chinese under the War-time Refugees Removal Act shows him persisting in the same course. As before, legal challenges have followed; but the Government may be even more embarrassed by the action of the Australian wives of some of the Chinese, who intend to appeal to Dr. H. V. Evatt in his capacity as president of the United Nations General Assembly. If their petition is sent to every member State of the United Nations which ’ signed the Declaration of Humah Rights, as they propose, the Australian Government may very well find its White Australia policy attacked. Mr Calwell’s latest action can only

intensify the resentment already, aroused among Asiatic nations by an undiscriminating policy of exclusion and deportation. These nations on the whole are willing to concede Australia’s right to maintain a “ white ” policy to protect her economic standards; but Mr Calwell obstinately pursues a policy which, as a reasonable and reasonably administered quota policy would not, rouses their objection to racial and Colour bars as such. Australia is making enemies in the Far East, and needs friends.