The Jews were to be disembarked in Port de Bouc. The refugees refused to disembark. Their only desire was to enter Palestine. Consequently, the British made plans to evacuate the ships. The French government opposed this action. On 30th July 1947, representatives of the French government offered the refugees asylum in France, on the condition that they departed the ships of their own free will.
Only 130 people left the three ships due to the enormous group pressure exerted by members of the
Haganah. The rest remained in the holds of the ships, waiting under the scorching July sun. On 21st
August 1947, the British presented a disquietening ultimation. Communique No. 127 stated:
It being obviously impossible for three British transport ships to anchor for an indefinite
period in French inshore waters, it has been decided that if the Jews do not begin to disembark
before 6 p.m. [British Summer Time] on 22nd August, the ships will sail to the British Zone in
Germany, where the passengers will be immediately disembarked.
This is the only territory under British jurisdiction, excluding Cyprus and Palestine, in which
such a large number of people may be adequately accommodated and cared for within a reasonable
amount of time.
The British were in earnest: at 18.20 Hrs on 22nd August 1947 the Ocean Vigour, the Runnymede Park, and the Empire Rival sailed for Germany, the country in which, only a few years previously, Jews had suffered the indescribable horror of the holocaust.
The Jews continued their silent protest. They continued to sing the Hatikwa, and painted a swastika on the British flag of one of the prison ships.
On the 25th August the British cabinet met, under pressure from media publicity, to discuss again the decision to transport the Exodus refugees to Germany. The ships discontinued their journey for as long as the cabinet held their discussion. The ships remained in Gibralta during this time. On 30th August 1947, following the fruitless termination of the discussion, the ships weighed anchor for Germany. Their destination was, and remained Hamburg, from where the refugees were to be taken to a camps in Lübeck.
