Possibility that Jewish and political refugees stranded in Portugal will be interned has arisen to add a new difficulty to the already desperate situation of refugees from Central Europe, it was learned here today.
With the new strain created in Lisbon by reports of a prospective German offensive against Gibraltar through the Iberian peninsular, the Portuguese authorities are considering establishment of camps for the hundreds of exiles who entered Portugal in transit but have not yet been able to emigrate overseas, according to reports reaching here.
Because of the congestion existing on the regularly operated trans-Atlantic vessels between Lisbon and the American continent, Portuguese consulates abroad have been instructed not to issue Portuguese transit visas more than twelve days before sailing time. Portuguese transit visas are now secured only after shipping companies inform the Lisbon authorities of definite steamship booking.
The Portuguese consulates, in addition to other instructions, are also instructed not to grant any transit visas unless they receive in each case the approval of the International Police in Lisbon. The headquarters of the International Police require definite evidence that passage has been booked on a specific steamer with a definite sailing date. It takes about a month to secure a decision from the International Police headquarters and it takes about two weeks to secure a Spanish transit visa for which the Portuguese visa is a necessary preliminary.
Meanwhile, it is reported that there are at present more than 20,000 refugees interned in jails in Spain. The French Government in Vichy is turning over more and more refugees to the Nazi authorities and the police in Marseille have started expulsion of all Jews, French and foreign-born, from the city on the pretext that this French harbor city is overcrowded.
The report indicates that the American consulate in Marseille is making it increasingly difficult for political refugees to secure visas to the United States. Each refugee for whom an American visa is asked must now answer 13 special questions before the visa is granted.
The Jews expelled from Marseille must take up residence in places assigned to them
(continued on reverse side) in other towns. They will not be permitted to leave these towns, except on special occasions.
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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.
