§ 56. Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the War Office have considered the grave danger arising from aliens, naturalised or un-naturalised, being permitted to reside in the immediate vicinity of important stores of explosives; if he is aware that in one such case reported to the authorities the reply was given that nothing could be done because the individual in question was naturalised; and if the War Office are satisfied with their existing powers in this respect?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe military authorities have full power under the Defence of the Realm Regulations to order the removal from any area of any person, whether British subject or alien, who is suspected of acting, having acted, or being about to act in a manner prejudicial to the public safety or the defence of the Realm. I can find no trace of the case alleged to have been reported to the authorities. The War Office are satisfied generally with their existing powers.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman allow me to communicate with him privately on the matter?
§ Mr. TENNANTI will be very pleased.
§ 58. Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the War Office has considered the fact that there are in the London police area 16,000 enemy aliens of military age who are not interned; and if the Department accepts the responsibility for allowing these persons to remain at large?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe War Office accept responsibility for allowing enemy aliens of military age to remain at large in cases where there are no military grounds for their internment.
§ LORD C. BERESFORDasked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware that Mr. MacNaughton, chief of the Inverness burgh police, on the 25th October, 1914, arrested in one of the hotels at Inverness an alien who had not registered, Inverness being within a prohibited area; whether next day, in examination before an honorary sheriff substitute, the prisoner gave the name of William Gulden and claimed to be an American citizen travelling for pleasure; whether the police were not satisfied with this man's passport, which was not quite in order, and he was sent, back to prison while further investigations were made; whether the result of the investigation justified the suspicion of the police; and in a third examination before a sheriff the prisoner admitted that his declaration was false, that he was not William Gulden but Frederick Parker Dunbar, that he had served for 24 years in the German Navy, and had held the rank of kornetten-kapitan; whether he is aware that this man admitted that he was in Ostend when the War broke out, and proceeded thence to Munich and Berlin, afterwards returning to this country via Copenhagen and Gothenburg; whether this man is not to-be brought to trial, but is simply to be interned as an alien: and, if so, will he explain why this man is not to be tried?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have not yet complete information about this case. Perhaps the Noble Lord will repeat his question next week.
§ 78. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary if he can give any estimate of the number of alien enemies employed in any capacity in the hotels, restaurants, and boarding-houses of London?
§ Mr. McKENNANo statistics are available of the numbers so employed at the present time. At the time when the registration of aliens was carried out, there were 4,966 so employed in the Metropolitan Police district.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSHow many of these were interned?
§ Mr. McKENNAOh, the great bulk.
§ 79. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether a German who is employed as a telegraphist at the General Post Office was naturalised last month; and, if so, what are the public advantages which caused him to grant such naturalisation?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. As regards the second, it is contrary to practice to give reasons for the grant or refusal of certificates, but I am willing to say, in this case, that the applicant had been in this country continuously since he was two years old, had shown his trustworthiness through fourteen years of good public service, and was recommended for naturalisation by the Postmaster-General.
§ Mr. McKENNAFourteen years, I think.
§ 80. Mr. JOYNSON - HICKSasked whether it is a condition of the Special Constabulary that no one not of British birth is to be allowed to join the force; whether the inspector of the V Division, Lavender Hill, has received a protest against being compelled to serve with a gentleman of German descent; and whether the only answer to such protest was to threaten the Englishman with punishment?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed that British birth has not been made an absolute condition of service. Persons not of German or Austrian birth who have been naturalised for ten years have been admitted on good recommendations, but with very few exceptions special constables are of British birth. The person referred to in the last part of the question was of British birth, having been born in New-South Wales. A protest against his retention as a special constable because of his German descent was made, and I am 566 informed the Special Constabulary inspector thought persistence in this protest, in the circumstances, unjustifiable; and warned the protesters that their action was subversive of discipline.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWhat circumstances justified the appointment of a German as a special constable?
§ Mr. McKENNANo circumstances. The gentleman in question was of British birth.
§ Mr. McKENNAIf the hon. Gentleman proposes to exclude from the public service everybody who is of German descent, I am afraid the rule will have very wide, application.