British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 182

CHAPTER VII.

(f) that the refugees in Mauritius be eligible for immediate admission to Palestine and that they be given an opportunity to enlist in Palestinian units.

41. The Secretary of State in reply (15th May) to the Agency refused to grant any of the Agency requests but agreed to certain modifications, which are described below :-

(a) persons in 'safe' countries prevented from coming to Palestine by difficulties of transport may barn the validity of their certificates extended provided that the total of 75,000 places shall not have been filled;

(b) a proportion of the places remaining to be filled may be allotted to persons in territories liberated or to be liberated.

42. On the 14th September, 1944, the Jewish Agency submitted that the policy of reserving the balance of places for Jews in enemy territory should be reviewed since it had become obvious that very few Jews would be able to leave the territories remaining under German control.

43. The Secretary of State, having considered the representations, directed that the following decisions were to be communicated to the Jewish Agency:-

(a) it is agreed that places should be re-allocated to cover the admission of 10,300 persons from the Balkans, Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Aden and Turkey;

(b) for the present not more than 1,500 immigrants will be permitted to enter Palestine in any one month from 1st October; the monthly rate of entry may be reviewed at 1st January, 1945, in the light of the position at that time;

(c) in view of the changed situation in the Balkans the undertaking conveyed to the Jewish Agency in Colonial Office letter of the 12th July, 1943, that in future all Jews, whether adults or children, who may succeed in escaping to Turkey, will be eligible for onward transport to Palestine, is now withdrawn:

(d) with the exception of commitments in respect of Iberia other commitments or promises, including those arising out of the Colonial Office letters of the 5th April and 15th May, 1944, will be met from the total of 10,300 places now reallocated;

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