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Britain to Probe Treatment of Refugees Transported to Australia

February 20, 1941
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Following charges that ill treatment of refugees on the S.S. Dunera transporting them to Australia for internment had resulted in two deaths, War Secretary David margesson announced in Commons today that a special Court of Inquiry would be set up in a few days, as soon as preliminary investigations were concluded.

Capt. Margesson asserted that the War Office and he himself had nothing to hide and were anxious to get to the root of the matter. The court will not hold public hearings, but its terms of reference will be sufficiently wide to ensure that the full facts will be brought out, he said. The House will be informed of the decision, he added.

Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Laborite, asking whether the results of the inquiry would be debated in Commons, gave notice that he would raise the matter on adjournment.

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