CARRYING EMIGRANTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20140, 9 January 1940, Page 6

CARRYING EMIGRANTS

VOYAGERS TO PALESTINE DANUBIAN PEOPLES CERTIFICATES LACKING (lilec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Oflicial Wireless.) Reed. 1.40 p.m. RUGBY, Jan. 8. Reports have reached London that certain shipping agencies are engaged in organising the transport of emigrants from Danubian countries to Palestine. There is reason to believe that the intending emigrants are unaware that they are not admitted into Palestine unless possessing immigration certificates issued by the Palestine Department of Migration and that, if they arrive in Palestine without these certificates they are liable to serious penalties and deportation under Palestine law. The ships, in which the emigrants travel at great expense to themselves are, it is alleged, small, insanitary and unseaworthy. The captains and crews also apparently are unaware that, by carrying passengers not legally entitled to land in Palestine, they themselves are liable to arrest and heavy fines.

There is a report that the second officer of the Turkish steamer Sakarya, of 2612 tons, now at Sulina, resigned his post because he learned that his ship was engaged in this traffic and he feared the penalties to which he would be liable. It is also reported that the conditions in the Sakarya are very bad. There is no heating and there had been several dozen cases of pneumonia among the passengers.