An Austrian, Rudolf Schenk, who was a gymnastic-teada in Vienna,
came to England precisely a year ago—on July 26 1939—with the help of the Society of Friends. Though never a politician, he had always been strongly anti-Nazi, and he was engaged to a Jewish girl. They married in England. He w to Cornwall to be trained in agricultural work with a view re-emigrating to South Africa. He was, however, interned b! the decision of a tribunal, a verdict against which he appealed, in due order, to the Advisory Committee. In a letter dated last week the appropriate department of the Home Office wrote a the Council of Austrians in Great Britain as follows: SIR,—With reference to previous correspondence regarding th: internment of Rudolf Schenk.
I am directed by the Secretary of State to say that in the present situation he has decided to withdraw the reference d
this case to the Advisory Committee.
He has accordingly reconsidered the case, and regrets that in existing circumstances he is not prepared to authorise the releasc of Mr. Schenk.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signature).
The letter was dated July t6th. But there was no Rudd' Schenk then. He had already been released by a higher authority than the Home Office. Unknown to his family he had been deported on the Arandora Star,' and on July 4th he went down in her.
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