Dalia Ofer.pdf - WNLibrary

Notes 355
policy. Bennett wrote in his reply: "The proposal for setting up camps for illegal
immigrants outside Palestine is, however, being kept in cold storage and will be brought
out again for fresh consideration if the situation seems to warrant it."
28. Ibid., CO 733/429/76021/7.
29. It should be noted that "deportation" refers to two different concepts: both
internment in a colony or a refugee camp outside Palestine, and repatriation to the
country of origin. Repatriation was the government's official policy, but it could not
be implemented. When policy changed, it was in relation to the first option—deportation
to a crown colony.
30. CO 733/430 W4717/38/48, reports from naval intelligence dated 3/20/40, discussing
Storfer's operation and his ties with Avgerinos, his brother's activities in
Bucharest, the support of the Gestapo in Vienna, etc. The Syrus and Popi are mentioned
along with details of the negotiations for their purchase and registration in
Panama. Reports from 3/26/40, 4/3/40, 4/17/40, and 5/13/40 detail Storfer's activities
in Greece. Storfer is cited as a German agent.
31. Ibid., CO 733/430/76021/19/40, Downie to Carvell, 4/11/40. At that stage, it
was thought that the Rudnitchar would take the Kladovo group. Indeed, we know of
negotiations between Konfino, Yehieli, and Agami in this matter: ibid., and also FO
371/29162 W6030.
32. FO 371/29162 W3060.
33. CO 733/430 W5073/38/48, note by Mathieson, 4/8/40, approved ("O.K.") by
Bennett and Downie: "A certain Storfer who was expected in Greece in connection
with the purchase of ships for the illegal traffic, is described as 'the head of the Nazi
organization for Jew smuggling.' I had to see why the German Government would
take pains to organize the traffic if it is only to get Jews out of Germany and into
Palestine. This would happen in any case without their efforts, and one can only
assume that some members of the transports will actively further German aims in the
Middle East."
34. Ibid., note by Locke to the Colonial Office, 7/11/40.
35. Ibid., FO 371/25241 W7899/38/48, Rendel to Halifax, the foreign secretary, 6/
13/40.
36. Ibid., see the report on the seizure of the Libertad, 7/19/40, note by Downie
on the implications, 7/22/40.
37. FO 371/25242 W76021/38/48, 9/21/40.
38. Ibid., 10/15/40.
39. Ibid., FO 371/25242 Wl 1766/38/48, 11/14/40, comments to the letter from the
Washington embassy regarding the deportation: handwritten note, signature unclear,
12/2/40, and also the comment by Snow, 12/3/40.
40. CO 733/430/76021/70/40, letter from Plaret, the British envoy in Athens, to
the foreign secretary, 11/21/40. A memorandum, apparently written in August 1940,
is appended to this and contains numerous details of Storfer's activities. Storfer and
his associates are baldly termed agents of the Gestapo.
41. FO 371/25242 W11091, the colonial secretary to the high commissioner, 11/9/
40; ibid., the high commissioner to the colonial secretary, 11/18/40.
42. Ibid., 11/9/40. And ibid, quoted in the report on the refugees in Haifa port,
apparently written by Weizmann, 11/27/40. Weizmann contended that MacMichael's
statement turned the refugee deportation question into a major political issue that
would determine the postwar status of Palestine. The view of Dexter of the Foreign
Office was that the declaration implied "eternal exclusion from Palestine." FO 371/
25242 Wl 1766/38/48, 12/2/40.