§ 33. Mr. EVELYN CECILasked the Prime Minister whether he has any knowledge of action by the German Government in revoking the naturalisation papers of recently naturalised Englishmen in Germany, in cases where their occupations or business connections appear to justify it as a means of bringing more effective methods into operation for preventing the transmission of valuable information to the enemy; and whether he will bear in mind the possibility of taking similar steps in this country against persons in respect of whom a like suspicion arises?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I have no information as to the reported action of the German Government in this matter. To enable any similar course to be taken in this country legislation would be needed, and as at present advised I do not think it necessary to ask for further powers for this purpose. Foreigners naturalised in the United Kingdom are subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Defence of the Realm Act and Regulations, and being British subjects would also be guilty of high treason if they assisted or attempted to assist the enemy.