Exodus Of Yugoslavs From Australia

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1948, Page 5

Exodus Of Yugoslavs From Australia

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reurgr

CaoyrtahtJ

. lteceived Tuesday," 7.(1 p.m.SYDNEY, Jan. 20. The possibility that many Ytigosiavs who are leaving Australia for their rnother country, will return to the Com; monwealth after a chorough indoctrination with Panslay and Communistic tdeas, is commencing to worry Austratian citizens and Goverflment alike. Informed sourees allege that the Yugosiav Government intends to train selected people of Yugo'slav origin but of Austrahan birth and sbnd them 'baek to ihe Oonimonwealth to spfead the teach^ tugs of the linssian satellite natiOns which are rapidly strengthening" their position in Easteim Eur'ope. This tallier with a report oiiginating in Soiia that hundreds of Bulgars recalled from Ameriea are to be returned after periods oi training in Bulgarian political seminaries. Those charges may seem fantastic to the average Australian who, from bitter experience, looks towards Asia when -nternational trouble is mentioned but many New Zealanders who were in iTieste ar.d •Yenezia Giulia in 7945, will not be so sceptical. Though Yugoslav ofiicials in Australia have refused all infonnation on the subject, it is apparent that some form of pressure was exerted on a number of people who are now travelling .to Yugoslavia aboard tlie liner Partizanka. A pamphlbt is circulating among Australiap Yugoslavs which deelares with arrogance tamiliar to Xew Zealanders uf the Becond Division, that there will be war by 1950 and that Yugoslavia jteeds every man. The pamphlet which. though it bears no'imprint, is believetj ny Wydney to be a manifesto of the dito Government, then adopts the Nazi technique of a Yeiled threat "if you uetray your fatherland. " Communist propaganda passed by the Australian censorship system which still bans literary masterpieces, has found many gpnverts amoiig the Hlavs in Australia. People who have lived peaceably more than 20 years in Australia, now (innly believe in the invincibility and destiny of Russia. Many have uemonstrated their i'aith by abandoning their considerable fortunes and roLurning to. the land of theirNbifth. J'rominent amoiig' the passengers of ihe Barti/.anka are Australian born youtlis responding to the Tito propa ganda that Yugoslavia is a young man's coufitry." Some of them are going for tlie . love ..of adventure, some from a sense of duty and some because they are anlent C'ommunists, but "all aie bouiid by agreement to Work out their passage money in service under the Tito Government. The Commonwealth authorities who lcnow more than they admit, are expected to examinc very closely the credentials of any of these people vvlio may retui'n to Australia.