JEWISH MIGRATION

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1938, Page 5

JEWISH MIGRATION

LONDON ACTION For its Promotion [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, December 2. Two hundred German-Jewish children, the first of five thousand refugees under Lord Samuel’s scheme, many of them orphans who were left homeless when an orphanage was burned down in Berlin during the pogrom, have arrived., They are accommodated at a holiday camp, pending their distribution to foster parents. The first attempt to co-ordinate suggestions for assisting the emigration of German Jews will be made on December 2 at a meeting of the vice chairman’s committee established ny the Evian conference.

Following the offer from Palestine to absorb 10,000 child refugees, a ■ census is being taken in the all' Jewish city of Tel Aviv of the available homes, more than one thousand of which have already registered. It is: expected that the homes will bo ready throughout Palestine within a week. The North Rhodesian Parliament has agreed to admit refugees to an eventual total of 150. The Dutch Prime Minister (Dr 11. Colijn) has suggested a collection throughout. Holland for refugees, ol whom four thousand have already entered the court. Hundreds are still crossing the frontier. Three hundred children have left Germany for Harwich, where they will camp until they can be absorbed into charitable homes. Eight thousand people at a meeting in the Albert Hall pledged support for every legitimate form of action to alleviate the sufferings of victims of religious and racial persecution in Germany. * “The Times,” in a leading article, describes Australia’s contribution to the solution of the refugee problem as characteristically generous. "The Commonwealth has certainly done her full share. A great part of Australian territory is uninhabitable and the chief centres are crowded. The new immigrants are unlikely to be acquainted with agriculture and stock raising.” “The Times” hopes that other countries within and without the Empire will follow Australia’s example.

An Independent Cable message says that a second mass meeting in the Albert Hall, addressed by Church and political leaders of all shades of opinion unanimously passed a resolution of protest against the religious and racial persecution in Germany Cardinal Hinsley, Archbishop of Westminster, said: "Nero, who revelled in the persecution of Jews and Christians and in incendiarism now appears somewhat as a model of righteousness.” The Archbishop of York said: “We desire, almost above all things, friendship with the German people, and we refuse to identify them with all that is done by the Nazis.” Mr Herbert Morrison, M.P., contended that the immigration restrictions in Palestine should be relaxed. Sir Archibald Sinclair of the Liberal Party) said he believed Palestine was the country best fitted to receive refugees.

Australia’s Policy QUOTA SYSTEM LIKELY. SYDNEY, November 25. • An. immigration quota for Jews probably will be fixed by the Australian Government, and if this is done an important and far-reaching innovation in policy will be introduced. The Government is going to admit 15,000 of these refugees over a period of three years. Australia has hitherto strictly set its face against the quota system for foreign nationals, but the exigencies of the present situation and a desire to help Jews have influenced the decision. The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, has already stated that the British Government has made no request for the Commonwealth to off>: a refuge to Jews and ha’s exerted no pressure. Early nexL jweek he is expected to make an important statement on the Jewish migration problem. Following the lead given* by Britain and the United States, it is believed that Australia is eager to convince the world of her willingness to accept a share of the refugees. That share will be in proportion to her own population, industrial development and general absorptive capacity. The adoption of the quota system would be a radical departure from any previous Commonwealth migration policy.

JEWS COMING IN ALREADY. The exact rate of the Jewish influx into Australia in the seven or eight months since Germany annexed Austria cannot ibe determined, because aliens at present are classified under nationalities and not according to religion or race. It is established, however, that there has been a steep rise in the number of German immigrants, with whom Australians are now classified, and it is certain that nearly all the German immigrants are Jews. Evidence of this also comes from the huge number of applications received by the Commonwealth Government, both here and in London. It is believed that the Jewish refugee quota will be determined by religion irrespective of nationality and that it will approximate the numbers already gaining admittance, under existing restrictions of monetary qualifications and guarantees by friends and relatives settled here. This quota would be evidence of Australia s desire to assist in settling the Jews, and would provide a check on the actual numbers entering the country. . The Government would be in a position to prevent a Jewish problem arising in this country. Refugee Jews already in Australia will automatically coijie into the quota if the Government adopts the scheme. Legislation is now being passed in the Federal Parliament for the compulsory registration of all aliens. It will enable a close check to be kept on the movements of aliens after their arrival in Australia. The new registration laws will be administered with the assistance of the police and postal officials. The Government will thus be able to know whether aliens carry out the undertakings they give when entering. Australia to settle in a specified district and enter a certain trade of business,