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Letter assessing the appearance of potential migrants from Ceylon
Mr. and Mrs. V. A. W [full surname omitted throughout record.]
Mr. and Mrs. E. J. R [full surname omitted throughout record] and Family
Persons of mixed race seeking admission to Australia from Ceylon
[Dividing line.]
Applications have been made to the Australian High Commission, Colombo, by Mr. and Mrs. V. A. W and by Mr. and Mrs. E. J. R., for permission to enter Australia for residence. Mrs. R is the daughter of Mr. W and the step-daughter of Mrs. W. The families have applied as a unit because Mr. and Mrs. W are completely dependent on Mr. R.
2. The members of the families have been interviewed at the High Commission in Colombo and the individual assessments of our reporting officer are as follows: -
Mr. V. A. W - Approvable on features and complexion
Mrs. W - not approvable, wholly Sinhalese in descent
Mr. E. J. R - not approvable, mid-light brown complexion, Asian features
Mrs. R - approvable, practically 100% European
Elizabeth R - approvable, light complexion
Michael R - approvable, slightly darker than Elizabeth.
A copy of the report and photographs are attached.
3. On the basis of this overall assessment of the families, their applications would normally be ones for rejection. However, there are other factors in the cases which warrant further consideration. Mr. And Mrs. W are retired Salvation Army Officers and Mr. W has two sisters and a sister-in-law living in Australia. Mr. R, who would not be out of place in Australia in the opinion of the interviewing officer, is a senior Public Servant in the Railways, and has been given the opportunity to retired as a result of the official changeover to Sinhala. Four of the six applicants are readily approvable, and the members of the families are of good standing.
4. For practical purposes, I suggest that Mrs. R be regarded as being fully European in descent (she is assessed as being practically 100% European). If you concur, then as a British subject she would be eligible under policy to introduce her husband and minor unmarried children as well as her elderly parents. It is under this special provision that I recommend acceptance of both families.
[Illegible handwritten signature]
for (P.R. Heydon)
SECRETARY [underlined]
13th August, 1963.
[Stamped in purple ink: ‘OFFICE OF SECRETARY’, ’22 AUG 1963’, ‘RECEIVED’.]
[Handwritten addition in blue pen:] By the following these people seem good potential for Australia: Entry approved.
