Newspaper article entitled ‘Attlee steps in as a colony protests: Welcome is planned’ from the Evening News, 17 June 1948. Catalogue ref: LAB 26/218
Contains original language used at the time, which is not appropriate today.
- What appears to be the attitude of Mr Isaacs, Minister of Labour, towards the Windrush arrivals?
- How has Prime Minister Attlee resolved the issues concerning their arrival?
- What is the value of newspapers as historical sources?
Transcript
Officials Will meet Barbados After All
Attlee Steps In As a Colony Protests
WELCOME IS PLANNED
“Evening News” Reporter
REPERCUSSIONS in the West Indian Parliament have caused a change of heart in the Government regarding the reception of 417 men due here on the Empire Windrush next Monday.
The replies given by Labour Minister Isaacs led Barbados M.P.s to table a motion that his attitude “is not calculated to promote loyalty and affection on the part of the British citizens in the Caribbean”.
Mr. Attlee himself has now taken charge of the matter. “Decisions of policy regarding the reception are being made at Cabinet level,” I was told today.
Decision Changed
Confidential reports at the Colonial Office that Mr. Isaac’s “great disappointment” at the venture coupled with the hope that “no encouragement will be given to others to follow their example”, has had a bad effect on propaganda among the coloured population. Labour troubles are already acute in the islands, with out of nine men unemployed.
Mr. Isaacs had added: We cannot put a man on the dock to guide these people into jobs.”
I understand that decision has now been changed and that in fact representatives of the Labour Ministry will be present together with Colonial Office officials when the Empire Windrush arrives.
‘No Colour Bar’
An official of the Colonial Office said today: “Welfare officers and a Press officer are going down from here to welcome these men. They will be cordially received and given the best accommodation available. The majority may have to be put into hostels, but better accommodation will be found where possible.”
At the Ministry of Labour it was stated: “The men are British subjects and will be given the same assistance as any others to find a job. Some want to into the mines or on the land. Those selected as trainees will go to the various centres in the normal way. We shall do our best for the others, but of course they cannot be or responsibility indefinitely. There is no colour bar against them.
Caption for Photograph
Googie Withers [actress] holds her hand out- it was spotting with rain as she left for Ascot and she was worried about [getting wet].23