Source 1

Transcript

Extracts from Minute Sheet, 17-25 June 1946, Catalogue ref: HO 213/1190
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The Government of India is pressing for the removal; as a matter of urgency, of the Polish refugees in India, whose numbers are estimated at 5,000, very few of whom have expressed willingness to return to Poland. Some of them, it is thought, will be admitted to this country. As we have agreed in principle that the latter may be joined by their families from Italy, we might feel bound to extend similar facilities in those cases where the dependents are at present in Italy India. Those, however, who are not related to members of the Polish Forces scheduled for admission to the U.K. have no claim to entry to this country, and their ultimate disposal will have to be settled as part of the general refugee problem. As the arrangements for the admission of the families of the Polish armed forces and their families from Italy have not yet been worked out, the whole question is at the present time somewhat premature.
? say to India Office that the details for the admission into the U.K. of the families of the Polish forces from Italy,
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(ii)
are still being worked out, and that when the categories of relationship have been decided it may be possible to link up with this scheme those dependents (who are now in India) of members of the Polish Armed Forces. It is however considered that the disposal of the remainder of the Polish refugees in India must form part of the general problem of refugees and displaced persons and as at present advised S. of S [Secretary of State] regrets that he is not prepared to agree to their admission to U.K.
OP Davies 17.6.46
Copy of Telegram Governor of India to Secretary of State to India re. [regarding] arrival of Webb. (15/6/46).
Captain Webb will no doubt want to discuss this problem with H.O. [Home Office] at once, and some indication is necessary of S. of. S.’s [Secretary of State] policy.
If India is allowed to dump unwanted refugees on the U.K., the other parts of the Commonwealth will not be slow to adopt a similar course. It may be that this is a “penalty of Empire”, but after the Poles will come the refugees of other nationalities and there will be a substantial immigration of foreigners who for the most part will not be useful workmen but a strain on the national economy.
It must be remembered that U.K has at present no power to exclude British subjects from the colonies some of whom, e.g. Maltese and Cypriots are a source of trouble to the police and give rise to anti-alien sentiments because they are mistaken for Italians or Greeks!
But it is a question whether the special conditions in India at the moment justify giving them some relief in advance of the settlement of the whole question of refugees and displaced persons by UNO [United Nations Organisation].
H.H. W. 25.6.46