9 APRIL 1942, Page 13

Sta,—None of your correspondents on the Struma ' incident have

mentioned an important point. Is it likely that a shipload of refugees would be allowed to leave Rumania without a goodly leaven of spies amongst them? That was probably the chief reason why they were not admitted to Palestine, and our Government was not to blame for the tragedy which followed. I was appalled that anyone could liken the refugees to " cat-burglars"; surely they were hoping against hope that we could relent. World conditions are so different from those prevailing when Mr. Balfour's promise was made—and the risk of letting in spies now would be too great.—Yours faithfully, ANNA W. SIMMONS. Ridgeway, Dorrnansland, Lingfield, Surrey.