INTERNEES. (Hansard, 13 August 1940)

§ 34. Mr. Silverman
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Friedrich Freund, aged 52, although suffering from diabetes and ulcer of the stomach, was interned and deported to Canada; and what opportunity, before the deportation, was afforded him of communicating with his only relative, a brother, now dangerously ill in London?

§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Eden)
I am informed that this internee was not under medical attention while in camp, and that he neither made any complaint nor asked to see the medical officer. He volunteered to go, and has gone, to Australia. He had the same facilities for correspondence as other internees.

§ Mr. Silverman
Is the Minister aware that this man produced to the police officer who arrested him medical evidence of the disability set out in the Question? Is he aware that if he had no medical attention while in camp, it was because none was available, and that it is inconceivable that this man should have volunteered to be parted from his only friends and relatives in the country? Does he not consider that this very cruel proceeding could only be justified—

§ Mr. Speaker
That appears to be a contradiction of the Minister's answer.

§ Mr. Silverman
If I am not to have an answer to my Supplementary Question, may I give notice that I propose to raise this question on the Adjournment?

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member has had an answer.

§ Mr. Silverman
I think my Supplementary Question did more than contradict one real point in the answer I received. I repeat that it raises a question of real importance, and—

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member is taking up a lot of the time of the House.

§ Mr. Silverman
On a point of Order. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment?

§ 47. Mr. Mander
asked the Prime Minister whether he will give particulars of the action taken by the Government with respect to the sending of refugees and internees overseas?

§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Attlee)
In view of the new strategic situation created by the enemy occupation of the Low Countries, Belgium and parts of Northern France, the Government came to the conclusion early in June that in the interests of national security it was desirable to transfer overseas a number of the enemy aliens then in internment in this country. This was in order to reduce the general dangers which might arise if the enemy attempted to invade these islands, from having large numbers of enemy aliens concentrated in a comparatively small number of camps in different parts of the country. In pursuance of this policy, some 9,120 Germans, Austrians and Italians were sent from internment camps in this country to Canada or Australia on various dates between 21st June and 10th July.

§ Mr. Mander
Is my right hon. Friend aware that on 10th July the Under-Secretary for the Home Department said that these matters were dealt with by a Sub-Committee of the Cabinet presided over by the Lord President, and can he give further information about the work of that Committee?

§ Mr. Attlee
Perhaps the hon. Member had better put that Question down.

§ Mr. Mander
I gave my right hon. Friend notice that I would refer to this.

§ Mr. Attlee
I am asking the hon. Member to put it on the Paper.

§ Mr. G. Strauss
If it is considered desirable to send abroad these thousands of anti-Nazi people, is it not more important to send abroad the Fascist sympathisers in this country?

§ Mr. Silverman
Were the people who were sent overseas all volunteers to go, or were any sent without their consent?

§ Mr. Attlee
There was a number of aliens who were considered dangerous and who were, therefore, removed from this country apart from any question of whether they wanted to go.

§ Mr. Silverman
How many of those sent overseas had been classified by the Home Secretary as refugees from Nazi oppression and, therefore, not dangerous to us but friendly?

§ Mr. Attlee
I cannot reply to that Question without notice.

§ 75. Mr. Silverman
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Dept. whether he is aware that Walter Oscar Holler, aged 18, who for three years was a scholar at Highgate School, which he left last July, having attained the school certificate with five distinctions, and who has twice been awarded first prize in an all-English music competition from among 11,000 competitors, was interned with his father on 1st July last, was separated from his father four days later and has not been heard of since; and whether he will say where this boy now is?

§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Dept. (Mr. Peake)
My right hon. Friend is making inquiries into the case and will let the hon. Member know the result.

§ Mr. Silverman
Is the hon. Member aware that this Question was handed in more than 10 days ago? How long is this family to remain in ignorance of the whereabouts of this boy?

§ Mr. Peake
It is thought that this boy has gone to Australia, but I want to make quite sure that his identification is accurate before giving the hon. Gentleman a full answer.

§ Mr. Silverman
Are we to assume from the words "it is thought" that nobody knows whether he has gone to Australia or not?

§ Mr. Peake
There is a boy with a very similar name to that in the hon. Member's Question who was interned on 21st June and not on 1st July.

§ Mr. Silverman
Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether the rest of that boy's description and particulars correspond to this Question, and, if so, who decided that he should be deported to Australia?

§ Mr. Peake
Practically all those who went to Australia went as volunteers.

§ Mr. Noel-Baker
Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to make special inquiries into all the very numerous similar cases which have arisen?

§ Mr. Silverman
Does the hon. Member really ask the House to believe that that boy volunteered to go?

§ 76. Mr. G. Strauss
asked the Home Secretary which organisation will advise him as to which individual internees come under the categories of exemptions and should be released from internment?

§ Mr. Peake
For the purpose of assisting my right hon. Friend to deal with applications for the release of individual internees whose cases are claimed to fall within any of the categories in the White Paper (Cmd. 6217), the staff of the Aliens Department of the Home Office has been specially augmented.

§ Mr. Noel-Baker
Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the staff of the Home Office is now sufficient for this purpose?

§ Mr. Peake
Yes, Sir. I am quite satisfied that that is so.

§ 77. Mr. G. Strauss
asked the Home Secretary whether he has now come to any decision as to sending to the Dominions Sir Oswald Mosley and other Fascist sympathisers detained under Regulation 18B?

§ Mr. Peake
I regret that I cannot add anything to previous answers on this subject.

§ Mr. Strauss
Is the Minister aware that it was on 4th July that the Government said they were considering this matter? Are the Government likely to come to any decision, or have they decided not to send these people to the Dominions?

§ Mr. Peake
I cannot add to the previous answer. This matter is still left over.

§ Captain Alan Graham
Will my hon. Friend consider sending all Communists or crypto-Communists further than the Dominions?