The 1,014 Jewish refugees who had been detained here for four weeks following their apprehension as they were preparing to embark for Palestine sailed for Haifa yesterday aboard the small Italian vessels the Fede and Fenice, whose decks were jammed with singing, laughing, wildly happy men, women and children.
They left Italy knowing that on the sway-backed pier where they had camped for the four weeks they were detained were 100 Italian friends made after their arrest had thrown a world spotlight upon them. Among those who came to bid them Godspeed were Italian Government officials, former partisans, Socialists and Communists and two representatives of the British Field Security Service.
Also present was the captain of the port, who had previously removed parts of the Fede’s motor on instructions from the British. Tuesday night he informed the Jews that no charge would be made for pier rent, water, electricity, tugboats and other services. The cost of the water alone is estimated at 100,000 lire ($400.) Another visitor was Police Captain Albarto, who had originally ordered the arrest of the refugees on the assumption that they were Italian fascists attempting to escape to Spain. He wore the medal which the Jews had given him in thanks for his assistance since then.
The deep friendship between the Jews and the Italians was evident everywhere in warm embraces, fervent handshakes and shouts of “Shalom” and “Buon Viaggio.” In a brief farewell ceremony aboard the Fede, Dr. S.U. Nahon, representative in Italy of the Jewish Agency, voiced the group’s gratitude to the Italian people. “We will never forget what you have done for us,” he said, “nor will our children or our grandchildren.”
He spoke appreciatively also of the “friendly and helpful attitude of the British Embassy and Allied authorities, who all tried their best to contribute to a happy solution of the problem.” The ceremony ended with the singing of Hatikvah, which had been sung morning and evening in sun or rain for thirty days.
Under their agreement with the British Government, by which an additional number of Palestine immigration certificates were allotted the refugees from the May 15-June 15 quota, the vessels cannot land in Palestine before May 17.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
