MIGRATION POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 13, 15 July 1935, Page 9

MIGRATION POLICY

BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS

MR, THOMAS'S SURVEY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, June 22.

In his survey of Imperial policy in the House of Commons, Mr. Thomas, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, referred to migration.

The first point he emphasised was that they must never discuss that question merely as a means of solving the unemployment problem, because that conveyed to the Dominions the impression that we were merely dumping someone on them. That would not only not be true, but it was not necessary, for the reason that since the economic depression set in five years ago, notwithstanding all the talk about people desiring to migrate and of losing their interest, in migration, there had never been fewer than 50,000 people ready, anxious, and willing to take their chance. The old spirit was not lost, and people still desired to take their chance in the Dominions.

Every overseas Prime Minister without exception with whom he had discussed this matter had emphasised his desire to assist emigration at the earliest opportunity. They had all said frankly, what he was compelled to realise and to accept, that it. would be madness to talk about emigration at this stage when the Dominions were unable to absorb their own unemployed. They said that they would not only look at it, but that it would be disastrous from every point of view so far as they were concerned.

All the Dominions had not yet replied in regard to the very able report o£ the interdepartmental committee which was sent to them twelve months ago. But the main structure of the report met with their general approval. Let not hon. members assume that emigration was something in which this country alone was interested. If emigration was to be a success it must have the backing, the co-operation, and the goodwill of every Dominion to which the emigrants went, but equally it was only fair to say that in his discussions he had taken the view that when the time arrived—and it was for us to have our schemes ready because this was the time to prepare them—it would be not only a big, bold policy, but one which ensured a fair chance as far as those leaving these shores were concerned through ihe hearty willing co-operation and welcome in the Dominions to which they went.