§ Return ordered, "of the Post Offices, Sub-Post Offices, Telegraph Offices, and Public Telephone Call Offices, which are situated on licensed premises in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales respectively."—(Mr. Leif Jones.)
§ On the Motion for the adjournment of the House,
§ MR. MADDISON (Burnley)drew attention to a case which he said had arisen that day under the Aliens Act. A Russian Jew possessing only £2 10s. had been rejected at Gravesend by the officer. On reaching St. Katharine's Dock, the immigrant told his informant that he was a deserter from the Russian Army. Shortly afterwards, by some means or other, he contrived to escape, and at the time he received this information the man was at large, the police being in search of him. He hoped the right hon. Gentleman would make prompt inquiries into the case and cover this unfortunate man with all the protection that could be afforded him. The House would remember that three or four weeks ago an alien immigrant proved to be a deserter from the Russian Army, and it then turned out that he was afraid to tell the truth, as he thought it would mean at once his return 732 to Russia and probably certain death. This man, probably a comrade of the former one, followed the same tactics, with the result that he met the very serious fate of being rejected. He thought it was necessary to bring this matter before the House of Commons at the earliest possible moment, as it seemed a most serious thing to happen under British law. Russia was in a state of revolution, and while he candidly admitted that a large proportion of the refugees from Russia were Socialists with whom he was not in agreement, that made him the more anxious that those who came here for asylum in consequence of religious or political persecution should not be turned back. If there was one thing we prided ourselves upon, it was that this country had been the asylum of the victims of religious or political tyranny.
§ MR. GLADSTONEsaid he had no knowledge of the facts of the case, but he would at once make inquiries. If the man did not avail himself of his right of appeal, but escaped, he exposed himself to the penalties of the Act. He would make inquiries and communicate with the hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)thought that the House was placed in a serious position in regard to this man, whom apparently the police were hunting with a view of punishing him. If they caught him he would be brought before a court of summary jurisdiction, convicted as a rogue and vagabond and committed to prison. They were in this position, that a man who stated he was a deserter from the Russian army would be punished in our courts for having escaped from custody because he expected to be sent back to Russia. He thought it should be recognised that every deserter from the Russian army was a political refugee and should be so treated.
§ Adjourned at fourteen minutes after Twelve o'clock.