§ MR. HOWORTH (Salford, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a paragraph in Monday's papers, to the effect that on Sunday last there landed at Tilbury Docks, from Hamburg, nearly 300 Polish Jews, most of them apparently destitute, who had been sent to this country by an emigration agency, with branches throughout Russian Poland, which represented to them that work is abundant here; and whether he will take steps to prevent the further recruiting of our already congested labour market by this class of immigrants?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHWith the permission of my right hon. Friend I will answer this question. I have been informed by the Chief Commissioner of Police that on Sunday last there were landed at Tilbury Docks from Hamburg 65 passengers, apparently foreign Jews, most of whom had luggage and all of whom proceeded to London; and that on Monday there were landed 40 passengers, also apparently foreign Jews, who proceeded to London. From further inquiry it appears that amongst those who arrived on the Monday were nine sailors, who shipped at once, and 17 out of the whole number have been admitted into the Home for Destitute Jews. The remainder have apparently dispersed in various directions, some having been met at the dock by friends. Inquiries are being made as to the nature and extent of any emigration 123 agencies by which such passengers are sent to this country. Instructions have been sent to the Consul at Hamburg to issue a warning to intending passengers against their relying on the assurances of finding employment when they reach this country.