Anti-immigration Wave in South Africa Grows

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

The agitation against the Lithuanian immigration into South Africa is growing. No sooner are the monthly figures on immigration and emigration published by the Director of Statistics, than the agitation is renewed in the press and elsewhere. The other day a question was addressed on the subject to the Minister of the Interior in Parliament and, in his reply. Dr. Malan stated that in the year 1925 practically a quarter of the entire immigration came from Eastern and Southern Europe to the number of 1,335. Of these, 839 came from Lithuania, the others from Poland, Russia and Latvia.

“The Cape Times,” the leading newspaper in South Africa, has now joined the chorus and, while protesting against a possible charge of anti-Semitism, frankly refers to the influx of the large number of Hebrews. In 1925, it says, there was a net loss, by reason of the emigration figures exceeding those of immigration, in the white population of the Union to the extent of 337, whilst there was an increase of 1,282 in the Hebrew population for the same period.

“Our total population,” the paper continues, “numbers barely 1,600,000, and of these 65,000 are Hebrews. Those 65,000 Jews have played their part and are playing their part in building up the resources of South African. They have proved themselves good South Africans.”

This compliment notwithstanding, the paper proceeds to demand that the Government should introduce the quota system in the regulation of immigration and maintains that the large increase in the Jewish population “may have the effect of altering the whole character of the future race.”