I was visiting Hindu friends in Mauritius. The mother of my friend said if the balance of Hindu's versus Muslims changed there would be a blood bath. I didn't forget what she said but it went to the back of my mind. I woke on Saturday morning in a panic - I had dreamt of my friends words so many years ago. When I recovered and could think I then started to view the migrants in a different light. If every man arriving in Europe has two children and those children grow up to be MP's or County Councilor's just think of the change that will have taken place in our lives. If they are given safety for the time it takes us to stop the wars in Muslim countries and those families go back to help their countries with the skills they have learnt here then all is well and good but if they continue to live here they will, by their great numbers, be running Europe in the Muslim way and my great grandchildren will be beaten by Sharia police for wearing what they want to wear; read what the want to read and marry whomever they please. And the girls will not be allowed to drive their cars. The Muslims must go back when peace in their countries allows it.

Like many of my Australian Babyboomer generation, I was raised to be tolerant, accepting, open. I was in my late 40s before I realised that not all the people I welcomed, metaphorically and IRL as migrants to my country, were imbued with the same attitudes. Everything tended to look ok until a tipping point was reached with regard to the numbers of immigrants arriving from particular parts of the world where the values, beliefs, customs and attitudes are antithetical to everything I love and respect about my Western culture. Yet to say so publicly would make me a pariah. I live in a place where freedom of speech is valued, but not all opinions are welcome. Strange, that, but increasingly common. There is much that embarrasses me about the Australian Govt's present off-shore processing of boat people/refugees/economic migrants and much is coming out now that makes me deplore the inhumantiy people can show to each other in these camps. But when I focus on the European dilemma, I see that Murray has written an excellent and lucid piece, with the majority of which I fully concur. In particular, I agree that Europe [or Westernised nations in general] CANNOT be expected to provide refuge and financial safe havens for all who want it. At some point, populations living in less than salubrious countries are going to have to accept responsibility for making them habitable and safe. Foreign aid from the West would be better spend on such projects than on propping up corrupt regimes or funding countries that are now perfectly well able to look after their own needs. Europe had to fight for hundreds of years to secure its present safety and its standards. Other countries cannot expect to be immune from this need to create their own living places. Tough? Yes, but why should my culture and way of life be destroyed by an influx of - who, exactly? Why should those members of my country who need the support of the state and private enterprise be shoved to the end of the line to enable a horde of extensively manipulated 'refugees' gain immediate access to services? When I read that Saudi Arabia is willing to spend millions on the building of mosques in Europe but will not accept any Syrian 'refugees', and for the reasons given, I knew I was smelling a situation that is rotten to the core. Let the Middle East and sub Saharan Africa and anywhere else fight their own battles, sort themselves out. If the military interventions we have engaged in to this point have not worked, and were probably ill advised from the outset, then let's cut our losses and get out. Thankyou Mr Murray. We are witnessing a war for culture in Europe. I just hope our politicians have the stomach to win it. It is not looking too encouraging at present, IMO.

This article is eminently sensible. I have lived in a working class district in Hong Kong for the past 5 years. I am accepted here but if another 1,000 like me turned up it would be a different story.

A well written comment, very thought provoking.

I fail to see the point in 'anon's comment. Even if I disagreed with everything Douglas Murray wrote (and, for the record, I don't) nit would be a challenge to anyone disagreeing that what he has written is anythin BUT cogent and rational. For me it is absurd that we in the west have been concerned (arguably paranoid in the USA) about Islamic immigrants, legitimate or otherwise, gaining access only to provide cover for ISIS, or other terrorists. The paradox of then letting in such immigrants in vast numbers, way beyond the combined capacit of the West's secret services to scrutinise is surely even more suicidal ...than naiive Labour supporters choosing Corbyn as their leader ....without grasping that this move from the middle-ground ensures that the only danger to the Tories running the show ...is ther own excesses. So when Mutty opened up Germany to the regugees, then it is certain that not even a majority of them came from Syria ...but those legitimate regugees were accompanied by others fleeing Iraq ...and even those who had been wrking in Dubai, originally from Bangladesh. So clearly NOT refugees, but Economic wannabe IMMIGRANTS. So of that blend of regugees & immigrants, then note the number of single/unaccompanied males, aged under (say) 25: what exceptionally good 'cover' for wannabe ISIS (etc) terrorists. So where was Mutty Merkel's strategic thinking here? Where was the Frau's consultation with her neighbours & allies before declaring 'open house'? all we saw was the Frau & her heavies looking to appl (economic) armlocks on the easten EU members through which tese 'guests' transit ...followed by pressure on the EU to share the load, which is a direct result -so fait accompli -of the German decsion to open its heart, minds & wallets to those in transit. I've NEVER voted Tory in my life, but agree with Cameron's approach of only allowing into the UK those (clear) refugees from the camps in Turkey and/or Lebanon. Interesting though, that so many REAL refugees are NOT looking to head west, but want to stay as close as possible to Syria ...so that they can return 'home' once it is deemed safe to do so! Employing the grey cells is surely a prime requirement over this profoundly difficult matter.

There is an aspect of the current crisis no-one seems to be talking about. Europe is welcoming these refugees, offering permanent homes, new lives and citizenship in Europe, no questions asked. At the same time, the European Union's official policy on Palestinian refugees is that they must be kept in camps, not for weeks or months but for generations, with not a single European country offering them a home. We understand, of course, the difference. The Palestinians are being used as pawns against Israel, but is that fair to the Palestinians? If a new life is good enough for, say, Syrians, why is it not on offer to Palestinians? How does Europe justify keeping Palestinians in permanent refugee status while offering homes to everyone else? The current crisis exposes the Palestinian refugee situation for what it is, a political ploy. Europe sheds tears for Syrians and leaves Palestinians to rot, because the so-called right of return for Palestinians is not even a consideration for Syrians. This is morally bankrupt.

Would you buy an Audi or a Merc assembled in Eritrea or Iraq? In a decade or so, you might as well.

Great article Douglas. Even amongst my leftie friends the fact that they are Muslim is a cause for concern even for them. I think this is the stuff the public say with their friends and family but wouldn't say in public. The only politician that i know of that has spoken of this was Patrick O'Flynn from UKIP, with little after discussion. It boggles my mind. What are they going to do when the next 160k arrive? Another load of questions. I genuinely don't know what it will take for politicians to wake up. God help Merkel when the first terrorist attack takes place in Germany takes place.

Living over 30 years in North America, came to visit my birth town.I am coming for years...it is very disturbing seeing SO MANY WOMEN in burka. That's not the city I grew up and remember. Very scare for my grandchildren.We already loosing our identity, culture and these people will never asymilate. They already grouping together,creating their Middle East in my city.I have no desire coming back.When this madness stops? If ever....

To say Islam is a religion of peace and compassion the comments from the Kuwaiti Official says a lot "In the end it is not right for us to accept people that are different from us. We don't want people that suffer from internal stress and trauma in our country" So let the West look after them with their stress and trauma. Like it or not the Islamifacation of Europe is well on track.