§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Home Office has laid down a Rule that immigrants thrown back upon this country by the American Republic as diseased and undesirable are, if they aver they are refugees, to be treated as first arrivals; and if he will say whether steps are taken to secure the separation of administrative decisions from any race or creed sympathy.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.No such rule has been made. Alien transmigrants who fail to reach or obtain admission to their destination in America are not allowed to remain in the United Kingdom except in circumstances approved by the Secretary of State in each case under the special powers given him by Section 8 (1) (b) of the Act. Such permission has only been given in a very 882 few exceptional cases. As regards the second part of the hon. and gallant Member's Question, I have to say that of course I am personally responsible for all Home Office decisions. While I sympathise with his anxiety that equal justice shall be done, I can assure him that though I hold the Christian faith, I do not allow my creed sympathies to interfere with the administration of the law when these are concerned who profess a different faith.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTThen the statement of the Jewish Chronicle of 12th October may be considered to have no foundation in fact?
§ *MR. GLADSTONEI have not seen the passage.
§ MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)Should not the word "antipathy" be substituted for "sympathy" in the Question.
§ [No Answer was returned.]