§ 72 and 73. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether (1) his attention has been called to the fact that in the period from 4th August to 31st December, 1914, after the commencement of the War, approximately 104 Germans and 32 Austrians have been naturalised in this country as compared with, approximately, 154 Germans and 49 Austrians so naturalised between 1st January and 4th August. 1914; whether he will state on what principle certificates of naturalisation are granted to alien enemies; and whether he will consider the danger of granting the rights and privileges of British subjects to so large a number of alien enemies; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the fact that, as regards the year 1914, the average number per month of Germans and Austrians naturalised in this country since the commencement of the War is practically the same as the average number of Germans and Austrians so naturalised before the commencement of the War, but that, in the case of persons of every European nationality other than Germans and Austrians, the average number naturalised in this country since the commencement of the war is far less and, in most cases, upwards of one-half less than the average number so naturalised before the commencement of the War; and whether he can state the reason of this difference?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe figures given by the hon. and learned Member are only approximately correct. Excluding re-admissions of British-born women the figures for Germans should be 165 before 4th August and 97 after that date; and the corresponding figures for Austrians and Hungarians should be 55 and 30. The figures include many persons who were merely of German or Austro-Hungarian nationality in a technical sense. In all cases certificates have only been granted when after a thorough examination it was clear that there was some public advantage to be gained or 571 some other special reasons, coupled with the certainty that no possible danger to the State could arise. The number of applications has been enormous, running into many thousands, and certificates have been granted in but a very small percentage of the applications. As regards friendly nationalities, there has also been some increase in the number of applications, but the enormous pressure of work has made it necessary to postpone the consideration of many cases. They are now being dealt with as expeditiously as circumstances will admit.
§ Mr. BUTCHERCan the right hon. Gentleman explain the fact that the proportion of Germans and Austrians naturalised since the War is pretty much the same as before the War, while in the case of other nationalities it is very much less?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not think the proportion shown should be so regarded. If the hon. Member will compare the number of certificates granted with the number of applications made, he will find in the case of neutral nationalities a very large percentage, while in the case of enemy nationalities the percentage is extremely small.
§ 74. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the necessity of taking precautions to ensure that persons residing in this country shall not under the guise and protection of British citizenship secretly help the enemy, he will again consider the desirability of taking power to revoke the certificates of naturalisation granted to persons of German nationality who still owe allegiance to the German Emperor?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have kept this matter under constant and careful observation; but I have seen nothing to change the view of the Government that it is not necessary or desirable to take the power suggested.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very considerable number of Germans naturalised in this country who still owe allegiance to the German Emperor?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no definite information on that point.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman get it?