CO129-589-19 Evacuation- refusals 3-6-1941 - 2-8-1941 — Page 21

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RE

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subsequent grant of permission by the Government to some 15 women to enter and remain in the Colony e.g. Mrs. Mathias (see my telegram No. 275). The cases under present consideration have excited relatively little comment.

Husbands meeting mentioned in my telegram

• No. 578 was very noisy, especially on the two points mentioned in the preceding paragraph, but my broadcast on the 1st July has had satisfactory calming effect and the subject has now disappeared from the correspondence columns of the newspapers. I am still of the view that attempt forcibly to expel these women would fail in most cases and would merely redirect public attention to the inevitable illogicalities of the Government's course of action.

•

I think that the stationing of police at the gangways of all passenger vessels arriving in the Colony, with refusal to allow any British women to land unless in possession of previously given permit, should prevent further illegal entry: so far it has proved effective.

For these reasons and those in my previous telegram, I am still of the opinion that the wise course is to refrain from action against the women concerned. Colonial Secretary and Attorney General fully agree. I have not again consulted the Executive Council formally, but have no reason to think that its view has altered since last I discussed this question there.