QUOTA SYSTEM LIKELY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 153, 2 December 1938, Page 12

QUOTA SYSTEM LIKELY

HELPING HAND

SYMPATHY OF AUSTRALIA

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, November 25,

An immigration quota for refugee Jews will probably be fixed by the Australian Government, and if this is done an important and far-reaching innovation in policy will be introduced. Australia has hitherto strictly set its face against the quota system for foreign nationals, but the exigencies of the present situation and a desire to help the Jews have influenced the decision. The Prime Minister, Mr. Lyons, has already stated that the British Government has made no request for the Commonwealth to offer a refuge to Jews and has exerted no pressure. Early next week he is expected to make an important statement on the Jewish migration problem. Following the lead given by Great Britain and the United States, it is believed that Australia is eager to convince the world of its willingness to accept a share of the refugees. That share will be in proportion to her own population, industrial development, and general absorptive capacity. The adoption of the quota system would be a radical departure from any previous Commonwealth migration policy. The exact rate of the Jewish influx into Australia in the seven or eight months since Germany annexed Austria cannot be determined, because aliens are at present classified under nationalities and not according to religion or race. It is established, however, that there has been a steep rise in the number of German immigrants, with whom Austrians are now classified, and it is certain that nearly all the German immigrants are Jews. Evidence of this also comes from the huge number of applications received by the Commonwealth Government, both here and in London. RELIGIOUS BASIS PROBABLE. It is believed that the Jewish refugee quota will be determined by religion irrespective of nationality and that it will approximate the numbers already gaining admittance, under existing restriction of monetary qualifications and guarantees by friends and relatives settled here. This quota, though not extensive, would be evidence of Australia's desire -to assist in settling the Jews, and would provide a check on the actual numbers entering the country. The Government would be in a position to prevent a Jewish problem arising in th s country. Refugee Jews already in Australia would automatically come into the quota if the Government adopts the scheme. Legislation is now being passed in the Federal Parliament for the compulsory registration of all aliens. It will enable a close check to be kept on the movements of aliens after their arrival in Australia. The new registration laws will be administered with the assistance of the police and postal officials. The Government will thus be able to know whether aliens carry out the undertakings they give when entering Australia to settle in a specified district and. enter a certain trade or business.