41. Miss Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Trinidad is willing to admit refugees and under what conditions; and whether they have granted the request of the Zurich Church Committee for Refugees to be permitted to send to 2829 Trinidad 15 to 20 Christian refugees aged 25 to 50, selected as having special experience in industries suitable to the Colony and submitted for approval to the British Consul-General at Zurich?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)Up to the beginning of this year Trinidad had already admitted some 500 refugees. The position regarding both employment and accommodation for refugees then became serious, and therefore the admission of alien refugees into Trinidad was prohibited except with the special permission of the Governor. I have no information regarding the latter part of the question, but am making inquiries.
Miss RathboneWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the application for this particular group can be considered in view of the fact that they appear to be specially carefully selected?
§ Mr. MacDonaldI am making inquiries and I will communicate with the hon. Lady when I see the information.
42. Miss Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet been able to make any arrangements for the disposal of the 700 refugees from Czechoslovakia now in quarantine in Beirut, and for whom he has been asked to find an asylum in Palestine, Cyprus, or some British Colony?
§ Mr. MacDonaldIt is clear that these refugees embarked on one of the vessels attempting to land illegal immigrants in Palestine. I regret that the difficulties in the way of giving so large a number of unselected immigrants an asylum in a British Colony are very great. Amongst the considerations which have to be kept in mind are the opinions on the matter of the existing inhabitants of these territories.
Miss RathboneIs it not the case that very great anxiety is expressed that something should be done, and has the right hon. Gentleman taken into consideration that the country from which these refugees come is one to which His Majesty's Government has acknowledged particular obligations, and that their plight arises directly out of the events of last March?
§ Mr. MacDonaldWe have taken all considerations into account and we are 2830 doing everything we can to facilitate the regulated settlement of refugees in different parts of the British Empire, but we cannot accept any responsibility for refugees who do not come within the regulated scheme.