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Australian Premier Decries Prejudice Against Jews in Plea for Increased Immigration

January 24, 1950
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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Premier Robert Menzies told a citizenship convention here last night that large-scale immigration to Australia was vital.

“People who said silly things about a man because he was a Jew should remember that the greatest Australian general of all time General Monash–was a Jew,” the Premier said. (Sir John Monash, who died in 1931, was the first Australian to command his country’s army corps in France in World War I, and was also the first Jew to attain general rank in England.)

Australian resources, Premier Menzies pointed out, were more than adequate for her population. He added that “every Australian must learn to regard every immigrant as a friend.” Prejudice about the race or origin of immigrants is not a sign of pride, but only of stupidity, he declared.

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