MP.3814

[Letterhead in black ink showing the coat of arms of Mauritius and reading 'CHIEF SECRETARY'S OFFICE MAURITIUS'.]

27th July, 1964

Dear Mr. Heydon,

We have given very careful consideration to the renewed proposal in your letter of the 9th July about the screening of Mauritian applicants for permanent residence in Australia, viz, that marginal cases should be the subject of a personal interview here in Mauritius with a representative the Australian Government Trade Commision, Nairobi, who would visit Mauritius for this express purpose about once a quarter.

We are most anxious to be as helpful as we can to all concerned and not to put any spoke in the wheels of mutually satisfactory migration from Mauritius to Australia. It is with this object in mind that the result of deliberation is that the Governor has reached the same view as I did in my initial talk with Mr. Flynn of your Department last month, namely, that in our judgment your proposal would be embarrassing and should therefore be avoided.

At the same time we very much hope that there will on this account be no enhanced difficulty for Mauritians in securing entry into Australia for permanent residence; and that the Department of Immigration, after a full examination of all documents submitted by intending migrants, will be prepared to take a chance with those which on paper it may regard as marginal cases.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Vickers [handwritten signature]

(Tom Vickers)

Chief Secretary.

[Addressed to]  P.R. Heydon Esp.,

Office of the Secretary,

Commonwealth of Australia,

Department of Immigration,

Canberra, A.C.T.

[In the bottom right corner is an unknown signature in blue ink, possibly 'M. Charles'.]