§ It shall be lawful for the Secretary of State in proper cases, if he so thinks fit, to cancel the certificate of naturalisation granted to any person of German, Austrian, or Turkish nationality, or to suspend the same during the duration of the War.
§ Clause brought up, and read the first time.
§ Mr. BUTCHERI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."
§ Sir F. LOWIs this Amendment within the scope of the Bill?
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANThe Bill is stated to be a Bill to amend and consolidate the Defence of the Realm Acts. I cannot carry in my mind what those Acts are, and I give the hon. and learned Gentleman the benefit of any doubt there may be.
§ Mr. BUTCHERThe object of this Amendment is to strengthen the hands of the Executive, and in proper cases to bring naturalised Germans and Austrians under the provisions of the Aliens Restriction Act and regulations, and in that way to give additional protection against dangerous persons. It is common knowledge that there are at present naturalised Germans and Austrians at large who are suspected of offences against the Realm, but in whose cases it is difficult and in some cases impossible to bring legal proof of their offence. These gentlemen shelter themselves under a shield of naturalisation. They pose as British soldiers, and they cannot be dealt with as alien enemies, and in some cases in that way they escape punishment altogether. There was a case given in another place the other day which was commented upon in a memorandum issued by the Secretary for Scotland, where the military authorities had arrested a naturalised German upon a charge of tampering with official messages. Unfortunately when he came to be tried there was no legal proof sufficient to convict him and he escaped. It is to meet that class of case that I move this Amendment. If my Clause is carried the result will be that the Home Secretary in the exercise of his discretion in a proper case will suspend or cancel a certificate of naturalisation, and this German or Austrian person will no longer be able to hold in front of him the shield of British nationality, and will be dealt with under the Aliens Restriction Act. He would be prevented from residing in a prohibited area.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANIt seems to me that the matter is relevant to the Aliens Restriction Act rather than to the Acts which this Bill proposes to consolidate.
§ Mr. BUTCHERI want to bring by means of this legislation these persons within the Aliens Restriction Act and other powers. This is an Act for better insuring the protection of the Realm, and in order to enable the authorities to deal with persons like this under the ordinary law and under the Aliens Restrictions Act, it is necessary to pass this Clause.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANI have made up my mind on the point; and I regret that I must rule the hon. and learned Gentleman's Clause out of Order.
§ Mr. BUTCHERI have not put my point.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANI cannot allow the hon. and learned Gentleman to argue with me.
§ Bill reported; as amended, considered; read the third time, and passed.