HC Deb 15 September 1914 vol 66 cc866-7
21. Sir J. D. REES

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a foreign subject on becoming a naturalised Englishman is not required to renounce his allegiance to his former country; and, if not, whether such renunciation is not required in other countries in the like circumstances, and should not be exacted in England?

Mr. McKENNA

So far as English law is concerned a foreigner is not required, on becoming naturalised in the United Kingdom, to renounce his original nationality. On the other hand, an Englishman who becomes naturalised in a foreign country loses his British nationality, and the law of many other countries is similar. It is left to each country to decide whether it will, or will not, still recognise as a subject a person who has become naturalised abroad, and any attempt to interfere with this rule would require legislation and would raise very difficult questions of international law.

Sir J. D. REES

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the law in Great Britain at the present time is subject to serious objections and that its alteration should be considered?

Mr. McKENNA

The law in this country is in many respects the same as in a great many other countries. I am not sure that the view of the hon. Gentleman would receive universal acceptance.

Sir J. D. REES

Has not the right hon. Gentleman mentioned objections in the law of this country, to the serious difficulty and prejudice of Great Britain?

Mr. McKENNA

I am not sure I appreciate the particular point in which the hon. Gentleman thinks British law differs from the law of a great many other countries.

An HON. MEMBER

It differs from the United States.

Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERY

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government will introduce legislation to make it impossible for German subjects to become naturalised as British subjects unless they renounce at the same time their German nationality?

Mr. McKENNA

Under the German law, a German subject to become naturalised as a British subject must renounce his German nationality except in certain very limited number of circumstances. The general rule is, that a German naturalised here must renounce, by German law, his German nationality.

Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERY

Would the Government introduce legislation to destroy these small number of exceptional circumstances?

Mr. McKENNA

I should have to consider that point.