CONFIDENTIAL
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Polish Refugees
9. (i) Poles in the UK
Details of the Government's attitude towards Poles in the UK at
the time of martial law were given in Mr Whitelaw's statement of
9 March. This also confirmed the Government's present policy
on returnability of Poles who do not qualify for asylum or
refugee status.
(ii)
Poles in Austria
In response to the request of the Austrian Government for assis-
tance in resettling the large numbers of Poles in Austria (some
30,000 in December 1981), the UK agreed in June 1982 to accept
for consideration applications from Poles which fulfilled certain
criteria. (Lord Belstead's written reply of 16 February.) So far
the Home Office has received fewer than 100 enquiries from Poles
in Austria. Of these, applications in respect of some 7 Polish
citizens have been accepted; 5 have been refused and a further
number are under consideration. The total number of Poles in
refugee camps in Austria is now estimated to be in the region of
7,000; a further 2-10,000 are believed to have entered Austria
illegally.
(iii) Poles in Poland
The UK and other Western countries have received applications for
resettlement outside Poland of Poles who were until recently
detained under martial law provisions. The Government's response
to applications for settlement in the UK (currently 120) was given
in Mr Whitelaw's statement of 9 March.
(iv) Poles from the Stefan Batory
Some 30 Poles are believed to have jumped ship when the Polish
cruise liner, the Stefan Batory, called in to Tilbury on 15 March.
Although the Home Office originally intended that these Foles
should be treated as new visitors by the terms of Mr Whitelaw's
statement of 9 March, it was subsequently decided that they may
have been unaware of the recent change in our regulations.
As a consequence those seeking to remain in the UK have been
granted leave to stay for 12 months (in line with Poles in the UK
at the time of martial law). Applications for asylum or refugee status are likewise being considered sympathetically and on their merits.
Deportation of
CONFIDENTIAL