13th October 1950.
Mr. J. Young,
Association of Engineering & Shipbuilding Draughtsmen,
96, St. George's Square,
Dear Mr. Young,
Thank you for your letter of 10th October.
Since your first communication was received, further information has come to hand and the number of persons involved is 150, whom the French Government decided to deport to Algeria.
You will recall that France offered asylum to a large number of Spaniards some years ago at the conclusion of the war in Spain.
The decision referred to above follows from the conclusion of the French authorities that approximately 180 of those persons who were given asylum have abused French hospitality by forming clandestine communist organisations.
With regard to the 180 persons who were given the option of internment in Algeria or passage to any country behind the Iron Curtain, there were fewer than 30 who preferred the Iron Curtain and the remainder sailed from Marseilles over three weeks ago.