ALIENS TO BE FREED

Chronicle (Levin), 21 September 1946, Page 5

ALIENS TO BE FREED

Press Assn.

Naturalisation May Be Applied For AUSTRALIAN DECISIONS

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Friday, 8.25 p.m. CANBERRA, Sept. 20.. Hundreds of enemy aliens brought to i Australia during the war for internment, are being released to take jobs and establish permanent residence in Australia. Later they will be permitted to apply for naturalisation and may be allowed to bring their wives and children to Australia. A startling official diselosure today was that the period of internment served by an enemy alien in Australia. counts as part of the live-year proba* tionary period needed before naturalis ation can be souglit. Thus many aliens who have spent tlie whole- of the last tive years beliind barbed ivire, will soon be eligible. fhe only condition is that they must wait 12 months after reiease from internment.

The releases follow mvestigations which have been made in recent months by Mr. Justice Ilutchins, of Tasmania. There are about 2000 enemy aliens, mostly Germans, who were brought to Australia during the war by the military autliorities on belialf of the Bri tisli Government. Because of the chaotic conditions in Europe, the Comiuoiywealth Goveriiment, wliich- wanted to close all internment eamps as quickly as possible, was faced with a difficult pioblem. Lack of shijjping and the reticence of the Allied Military Government in Germany, made reparation of enemy aliens virtually impossible. Mr. 'Justice Hut.-hins makes three classes of recomiuendations — deporta- ; tion, reiease pending deportation, and reiease to remain in Australia. Those in the lirst category are being held in eustody pending the provision of sliip1 ping. The • otliers are being released subject to certain conditions. Numbers of people brought here on behalf of the British Government, were released during the war and volunteered for service in the Australian Army. This was not permitted but their services were used in Army employiuent companies and later in the Aliens Corps. JUany of the latter have aiready been naturalised.