9 and 121. Colonel WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Under-Secretary of State for India if assurance can be given that German missionaries working in the Dominions and Protectorates will be left free to carry on during the war their religious work, on condition of their observance of strict neutrality, subject to such restrictions as it may be necessary from time to time to impose?
10 and 122. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked (1) the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the position of German missionaries now in British tropical Africa and other British Colonies and Protectorates; and whether any action can be taken to prevent their work from being discontinued; and (2) the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether his attention has been called to the position of German missionaries belonging to the Basel Missionary Society and other missionary associations working in India; and whether any action can be taken to assist them?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Charles Roberts)At the request of the Secretary of State for the Colonies I will answer together the questions asked by the hon. Members for West Dorset and West Leeds about German missionaries in the Colonies and Dominions as well as in India. His Majesty's Government is confident that sympathetic consideration will be extended to German or Austrian missionaries engaged in purely religious work.
Mr. E. HARVEYCan facilities be given to British missionary societies to afford temporary financial aid to missionaries who are in great difficulty in many cases, having resided for years in out-of-the-way parts and now being left penniless?
§ Mr. ROBERTSI will consider if that is possible.