43. Miss Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Jewish refugees deported from Palestine over three years ago because they entered it without Palestinian certificates are still interned in Mauritius; and whether he will arrange for these persons, where suitable for employment, to be released for arms or civilian employment in Palestine or elsewhere and for their families to be sent back to Palestine.
§ Colonel StanleyThere are some 1,400 Jewish refugees in Mauritius. Opportunities have been afforded for service with the Allied Forces to refugees who are suitable. Some 80 Czechs left the Island in 1942 for service with the Allied Forces but there were so many desertions from among those sent to the Middle East that the Czech military authorities cancelled the departure of further volunteers. These were given an opportunity of serving in His Majesty's Forces in the Pioneer Corps but they declined. It is open to any refugee in Mauritius to volunteer for service with the Pioneer Corps. In addition, eight Polish Jewish refugees left Mauritius in April, 1943, for service with the Polish forces in the Middle East. As regards the question of employment outside Mauritius these refugees are, in the circumstances of their transfer to Mauritius, precluded from entry into Palestine, and it has not been found possible up to the present to make arrangements for their employment elsewhere. As regards the last part of the Question, so far as I am aware four men who volunteered and were accepted for service with the Forces left their wives in Mauritius one has been admitted to the United Kingdom, and approval has been given for the admission of another.
Miss RathboneIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the circumstances under which these people originally tried to enter Palestine illegally and that the subsequent terror in Europe has fully justified their attempt; and that if they tried it on now they would have been admitted to Palestine? Is it not rather hard that they should be penalised for over three years for an attempt which would have been perfectly successful and justified if it had happened now?
§ Colonel StanleyThe main thing is that in Mauritius they are in perfect safety.
§ Mr. SilvermanIs it not a fact that a large proportion of these people are not qualified either by age or sex for service in any part of the Armed Forces, and is it not equally true that all these people have been kept in enforced idleness for three years in Mauritius, and is it not now possible to allow them to be engaged upon useful labour on the island?
§ Colonel StanleyThey are engaged in useful labour on the island. They are not kept in enforced idleness, and everybody able and willing to work is working in the camp.
§ Mr. SilvermanCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how long that has prevailed?