IMMIG RATION Stn,—Why do some people (Postscript,' October 27) insist
on distorting the issues involved in immigra- tion? Obviously, the coloured immigrants arc fit to live with us—in fact, it might well be asked if all of us are fit to live with them. Most of the opponents of immigrant control have the best intentions; but this consideration must not prevent us from looking at a few facts. Nor does it make any difference to those facts that certain members of the Tory Party advocate either the wrong sort of control or the right sort for the wrong reasons. There is an acute housing shortage in many parts of the country and, as you, sir, can see by walking not very far in several directions from 99 Gower Street, there are many thousands of occupied houses which should be pulled down and replaced now. It is also an evident fact, regrettable though that aspect of human nature may be, that where any large concentrations of people from a different sort of society are allowed to build up in an urban area, considerable friction is inevitable. It is no good blaming it all on the Fascists: that, indeed, is to make a very low estimate of the intelligence of the average man. Extremists in these situations do not create frictions, they exacerbate them. The truth is that many people sincerely believe that the best service the Government can do, particularly for all coloured immigrants, past and future, is to limit (not put an end to) entry to this country to a level at which immigrants can be happily and peacefully absorbed into our community. To help such absorp- tion is surely a task worth the efforts of everyone.
HEYGATE
29 Sinclair Road, W14
Previous page
