JEWISH REFUGEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23796, 1 May 1939, Page 11

JEWISH REFUGEES

"FIGHT FOR EMPIRE” OFFER GRATITUDE FOR AUSTRALIA’S HELP (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Apl. 21. Eight hundred Jewish refugees, from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, at a meeting here decided unanimously to offer their services without reservation for the defence of Australia and the Empire. In the audience was a number of men who had fought with distinction with the German and Austrian armies during the Great War. The ages of those present ranged from 19 to 45, and in the gathering practically every profession and trade was represented. Many women present declared their wish to join the defence auxiliary services. The meeting was organised among the refugees themselves, but at their request the president of the Australian Jewish Welfare Society (Mr Saul Symonds) presided. The meeting adopted a motion expressing loyalty to their new homeland and the Empire. Attention was directed to restrictions under the Defence Act on the admission to the Commonwealth defence forces of persons who had not been naturalised British subjects for more than five years. It was stated, however, that the Minister of Defence, in individual cases, had power to waive this rule, and to accept in the armed services persons who were anxious to enlist. On behalf of the refu-ees, their spokesmen—Mr W. Hirst, who is chairman of the Migrants’ Committee, and Mr W. Watzdorf, a member of that committee —said that they were so grateful to Australia for having given them refuge that they intended throughout the rest of their lives to do everything in their power to meet the highest calls of citizenship. When the Government has advised the directions in which the services of the refugees may be used, a further meeting will bo called. Already more than 300 of the migrants, who are of eligible ages, have applied for admission to the militia.