Britain Finds Sanctuary For 582,000 Refugees

Northern Advocate, 8 April 1943, Page 3

Britain Finds Sanctuary For 582,000 Refugees

(8.0. W., 12.45 p.m.) RUGBY, April 7. Mr' Churchill, in (he House of Commons, answering a question concerning the help afforded refugees by the British Empire before and during the war, said that the number of refugees from Germany and Austria in Britain at the outbreak of war was approximately 55,000. A large number of these had children and there were also more than 13,000 child refugees admitted without parents. In addition, nearly 10.000 Czechoslovak nationals had found refugee in Britain during the year preceding the war. In the period 1940 to 1942, alien refugees from enemy-occupied countries totalled 63.003, including about 20,000 seamen, but excluding a very large number who came as members of the Allied forces. Over 18,000 legal immigrants- had reached Palestine between April 1, 1939. and September 30, 1942. 38,000 Jews

The total number of Jewish immigrants was about 38.000. The great majority of these came from central and eastern Europe. The Government was prepared, provided the necessary transport was available, to continue to admit to Palestine Jewish children, with a proportion of accompanying adults, up to the limits of immigration permissible for the five-year period ending March 31, 1944. This was approximately 29.000. India had provided accommodation for over 400,0-30 evacuees. The bulk were of Indian origin, but large numbers were from the Balkans, Malta and many other areas. The total of refugees, evacuees and additional population in the form of internees and prisoners of war maintained in British territory and Palestine, but excluding the Dominions, and the very large numbers who had come as members of Allied forces, amounted to 582,710. Mr. Churchill said that the resources of Britain been strained to the utmost in maintaining her traditions of asylum and hospitality while subjected to enemy attacks. Conference at Bermuda Mr. Eden in the House of Commons said that the forthcoming AngloAmerican conference in Bermuda on the rescue of victims of Nazi terror would naturally include any measures for the relief of refugees in addition to those already operating.