[Stamped in red ink:] PERSONAL

[Letterhead in black ink, showing the coat of arms of Mauritius, with the words ‘CHIEF SECRETARY’S OFFICE’, ‘MAURITIUS’.]

27th July, 1964

 

[Handwritten in blue ink] Dear Peter, [end handwritten]

I have just signed our semi-official reply to the proposal in your letter of the 9th July about the screening of Mauritian applicants for permanent residence in Australia. I hope that you won’t think we are being difficult, but in a small, densely populated, multi-racial, and very sensitive community such as this, we have to be extremely careful in the handling of any question relating to discrimination on racial grounds. From our point of view your proposal of periodic visits - the underlying purpose of which would very soon become suspect, if not apparent [a line handwritten in blue ink is drawn parallel to the following text, drawing attention to the text within] - would be personally embarrassing for the marginal applicants concerned, politically explosive for Ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly and damaging to the general cause of good relations between Mauritius and Australia. We also think it would do the Australian image no good at all, especially after what the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference has said about multi-racial ideas. [End emphasis line.]

May I add that it is a comfort to have the personal assurance in your manuscript letter of the 9th July that our judgment after consideration of the proposal will not be contested? Nevertheless, if it is going to have any adverse effect at your end, I hope you will let me know.

[Handwritten in blue ink] Yours sincerely,

Tom Vickers [end handwritten.]

(Tom Vickers)

[Addressed to:] P.R. Heydon Esq.,

Office of the Secretary,

Commonwealth of Australia,

Department of Immigration,

Canberra, A.C.T.

[Stamped in red ink:] PERSONAL