The White Paper
- Joanne Tapiolas
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
While the Dunera was making its way to Australia, the Home Office released a document which was to be referred to as The White Paper. It was titled Civilian Internees of Enemy Nationality, Categories of Persons Eligible for Release from Internment and Procedure to be Followed in Applying for Release.
Published in August 1940, an updated release in October 1940 included an additional three categories.
Category 22 was the most relevant category for the Dunera Interees:
22. Any person as to whom the Tribunal, appointed by the Secretary of State, reported that he had, since childhood or for at least 20 years, lived continuously or almost continuously in Great Britain; had long severed connections with his country of nationality; that his associations and interests were British; and that he was friendly towards this country.
To assess the eligibility for the Dunera Italians for release under the White Paper, an Advisory Committee was established also referred to as the Italian Advisory Committee. Following is the transcript from the discussion in the House of Commons regarding the Italian internment situation.
Sir John Anderson (Home Secretery and Minister of Home Security): Now may I come to the case of Italians? I would remind the House that, on the outbreak of the war with Italy, the Government decided to order the internment of Italians resident in this country who were known to be members of the Italian Fascist party, other than invalids and the infirm, and of other persons, between the age limits of 16 and 70, who had less than 20 years' residence in this country. As a result of the policy, some 4,100 Italians were interned. Some of these were sent overseas, but, at present, we have in internment camps in this country some 3,000 Italian nationals. In a statement which I made—I think it was on 23rd July—I promised that the same arrangements as were made in the case of Germans and Austrians would extend, so far as applicable, to Italians. The practical difficulty is that whereas in the case of Germans and Austrians we have had a review of each individual case and a classification of those aliens into categories, there has been no classification at all of the Italians.
Accordingly, we propose to set up forthwith an Advisory Committee, of which I am glad to be able to tell the House Sir Percy Loraine has agreed to be chairman, to consider the cases of Italian refugees who fall within one or other of the categories of eligibility for release, and to advise the Home Secretary whether any Italian eligible for release can be regarded as so friendly towards this country and so sympathetic towards the Allied cause that he could safely be released without prejudice to the national interest. This Committee will consist, in addition to the chairman, of persons with special knowledge of Italian politics and life, and they will be at liberty to co-opt as assessors, if they think fit, other persons who have special information and knowledge of political conditions in Italy and will be able to give assistance to determine on which side lie the sympathies and loyalties of individual Italian internees.
Release of Dunera Italians to return to the UK was a slow process. The first Dunera Italian to depart Australia was Guglielmo Francescon. On the 25th May 1941 Guglielmo proceeded under escort to Sydney, NSW and then embarked the HMT Largs Bay on the 4th June 1941. Upon arrival in the UK on the 31st July 1941 Guglielmo was re-interned on the Isle of Man. On the 23rd October 1941, Guglielmo was released without restriction under Category 22 of the White Paper.
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