REFUGEES FROM EUROPE

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1947, Page 7

REFUGEES FROM EUROPE

RESTRICTION ON PASSAGES TO AUSTRALIA MANY RECENT ARRIVALS SYDNEY, February 12. “No ship leaving Continental ports for Australia in future will be permitted to allot more than 25 per cent, of berths to refugees,” said the Minister of Immigration (Mr. A. A. Calwell) in Melbourne to-day. “An. exception has been made in the case of the Dutch liner Johan de Witt for reasons already stated, but there will be no exceptions in future.” Mr. Calwell questioned the statement that 3300 displaced persons from Europe were expected to reach Australia in four liners between now and the end of April. He said that the Dutch liner Oranje would not be permitted to bring any persons from the Continent if, in the opinion of the Australian authorities on the spot, the ship was suitable for British migrants. 2600 Jews. Earlier the Daily Telegraph claimed that three Dutch liners in all would bring more than 3000 displaced persons from Europe to Australia by the end of April, and that about 2600 of these were Jews from Poland, Austria, and Germany. The liners were stated to be the Johan de Witt, Oranje. and Johan van Odenbarneveldt. The number of passengers in cabin and hold accommodation in the Johan de Witt was given as 900. The Daily Telegraph said that the Oranje would leave Amsterdam on February 20 with 1500 passengers, including 1000 Jews in the holds, and the Johan van Odenbarneveldt early in March with an-, other 1500.

“The alien migrants coming to Australia in the Johan de Witt have landing permits issued more than a year ago,” said Mr. Calwell yesterday. “In nearly every case permits were issued in accordance with the practice followed until recently, when it was announced that Australia had gone as far as expected in issuing landing permits on humanitarian grounds. They were issued on application by close relations, who were able to guarantee maintenance and accommodation for their nominees as refugees or displaced persons who had been the victims of enemy persecution.” Too Late for Action. Mr. Calwell said that the Commonwealth Government had no part in arranging any of the passages. When he was first advised of the projected voyage under troopship conditions he pressed to, limit Jewish aliens to 25 per cent.'of the passengers, but he was told that arrangements for their movements from various parts of Europe to the ports of assembly had proceeded too far for this to be done.. Inquiries had disclosed that the accommodation, which consisted of “hammocks and stand ups in- the holds,” would be unsuitable for British migrants. Mr. Calwell said the vessel was the first ship to carry refugees from Europe since the Ville d’Amiens left Marseilles last September, and it was unlikely that any other ship would be available from a Continental port tocarry Jewish migrants next May.