§ 40. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the circumstances in which a ship containing German-Jewish refugees was refused admittance to British Guiana?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe ship in question, carrying 165 German refugees, arrived off Georgetown on 24th February, and permission was sought by the master of the vessel for the refugees to land with a view to settlement in the Colony. The Governor replied that no settlement scheme had yet been formulated and that pending the report of the Commission which is now investigating the interior, he regretted that it was impossible to permit the landing of intending settlers. The Governor has informed me that in the present conditions of unrest and unemployment, he considers it impossible to arrange for the settlement of any large number of refugees except under a properly organised scheme.
§ Mr. ManderCan the right hon. Gentleman say where these unfortunate refugees can go?
§ Mr. PetherickDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that uncontrolled immigration into any of His Majesty's Dominions or Colonies cannot be allowed in present circumstances and will he see 2130 that a rigid scrutiny takes place in each case?
Vice-Admiral TaylorDoes not the fault lie with the people who are responsible for sending these refugees?
§ Mr. ManderThe German Government.