§ 20. Mr. MOUNTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of alien enemies who have been released from the detention camps?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo returns of releases of alien enemies from detention camps are available for the period prior to the 17th October. In the period subsequent to that date up to and including the 30th January the number is 2,821.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSWhy do they let them in and out without keeping any record?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not know that they are let out.
§ 25. Mr. SANDERSONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in some parts of the United Kingdom much anxiety prevails as to the position of naturalised aliens residing therein; and whether any and, if so, what steps are being taken to prevent such naturalised aliens from giving information or assistance to the enemy?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I am aware that a good deal of anxiety has been expressed in various quarters about naturalised British subjects, but I think it is mainly due to misapprehension. It seems to be thought that they enjoy some immunity, but this is not the case. If there is any reason to suspect any such person of acting or of being about to act in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or the defence of the realm, he can, like any other person, whether British subject or not, be removed by order of the competent naval or military authority from any place where he could be dangerous and be required to reside elsewhere.
§ Mr. SANDERSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in a specific case of suspicion application should be made to the military or naval authority?
§ Mr. McKENNAApplication should be made to the competent military or naval authority in any case of suspicion.
§ 54. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister what are the terms of the working arrangement between the War Office and the Home Office as to the procedure for releasing alien enemies who have been interned and the date when such arrangement was made; and whether, if such arrangement was in writing, he will lay the same upon the Table of the House?
§ 55. Mr. BUTCHERasked whether the Home Office is responsible for the investigation by the police of the question 221 whether a particular alien enemy should be released or not; whether the Home Office is responsible in case the information obtained by the police on this question is inaccurate or insufficient, and, if not, who is responsible in such a case; whether, when such investigation is completed, the Home Office makes a recommendation to the War Office as to whether the alien enemy should be released or not; and whether it is in all cases necessary that before an alien enemy is released there shall be a joint consideration of the case by the Home Office and by the War Office?
§ 56. Mr. BUTCHERasked when and by whom it was decided that the responsibility for releasing an alien enemy should rest with the War Office?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)The responsibility for the release of alien enemies from detention camps was assumed by the War Office on the 11th November, in accordance with a decision of the Cabinet. It was at first proposed that the Home Office should make the inquiries of the police and submit their reports and recommendations in the usual way; but as this involved loss of time, since it was necessary in all cases to make inquiry through the police, the Home Secretary placed at the disposal of the War Office a small branch which had already been formed for the purpose of conducting these inquiries. This branch, though located at the Home Office, acts wholly under the control of the War Office, and there is no division of responsibility. The arrangement was effected by means of semi-official letters which passed between Lieut.-General Sir Herbert Belfield and Sir Edward Troup, which I will circulate with the Votes. Since this arrangement was made, the matter has been wholly in the hands of the War Office, and I am informed that the Home Secretary has been consulted only in one or two isolated cases. The police authorities are of course responsible for the accuracy of their own reports, and in the Metropolitan area the Home Secretary is responsible for the Police; if the reports are incomplete the War Office calls for further information.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIf the reports of the police in the provinces are incomplete, who would be the proper Minister responsible?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo Minister is responsible for the action of the local authority.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIf complaint is made in this House that the police do not give sufficient information, is not the Government responsible in any way?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe War Office is responsible for the whole thing. The hon. Gentleman asks who is responsible for the action of the local police. The War Office is responsible for the whole thing.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILIs the War Office now responsible for the arrest as well as for the release of these people?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes.
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo. Up to that time the matter was in a rather tentative state. The matter was considered on the questions of hon. Members, and we came to this decision on the 11th November Since then the War Office is in control.
§ Mr. HAMERSLEYIs the War Office in direct communication with the police in the provinces?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes.
§ 76. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Under-Secretary for War how many aliens were released from internment during the month of January, and if the War Office in each case acted upon reports by the police that the individuals released were neither dangerous nor destitute?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe number of alien enemies released from internment during the month of January was 717. The police were consulted in each case, generally, and also on the special points to which the hon. Member refers.
§ 92. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a German baron, whose brother holds a high command in the German Army, is permitted to reside in the Brighton area, and has a yacht at Shoreham; if he consented to the release of this person from internment; and if, having regard to the danger of German submarines getting supplies from aliens residing along the 223 coast, he will insist upon the prohibited areas being extended and all alien enemies being excluded from these areas?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)The gentleman to whom the question is assumed to refer became a naturalised British subject eight years ago, and has never been interned. The Admiralty are satisfied after close investigation that no action is required.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the possibilities, not to say the probabilities, of this German baron being the means of conveying supplies to the enemies' submarines off our coast?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Admiralty Intelligence Department, which is the branch of the Admiralty in charge of the question of dealing with aliens, has examined the case of this individual German baron, and is of opinion that there is no danger to be apprehended either of that kind, or any other, with regard to him.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEDoes the right hon. Gentleman believe that if the position were reversed, and if it were the case of a prominent English general, say, residing in Germany, that the same consideration would be extended?
§ Lord CLAUD HAMILTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the individual in question is the brother of the Military Governor of Brussels?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not make a personal study of these cases of individual aliens. I am informed that the Intelligence Department of the Admiralty investigated this case and thought no action was necessary.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this German baron, who is brother of the Military Governor of Brussels, is suspected by every patriotic man in the Kingdom?
§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the yacht in question has remained at Shoreham, or has been out from that port during the time of the War?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI really cannot say offhand what is being done, but I know that the authorities, who have no other object but to secure the safety of the country, are quite satisfied. I cannot 224 conceive any reason why they should not use the great powers in their discretion if they had the least reason to be apprehensive.