§ 41. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has had under his notice the case of Antonio Fell, a Hungarian, aged thirty, residing at 120, Blue Bell Hill, Nottingham, married to an English wife, formerly a waiter in Nottingham for seven years, interned at Wakefield in October and released in December, 1914, who, being unable to resume his former employment and having exhausted his savings, is now receiving 12s. 6d. a week from the poor rate; and whether any action will be taken to refund the expenditure incurred upon this alien, who has become a charge on the rates owing to action taken by Government arising out of the War?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The particular case to which the hon. Member refers has not been brought to my notice, but the Government have undertaken to repay to the Poor Law authorities half, and in some special cases the whole, of the cost of relief given to aliens who have become destitute in consequence of the state of war. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the circular which the Local Government Board have issued on the subject.
§ Sir J. D. REESMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman in the case of Nottingham will make payment of the whole rather than the half?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI see no reason for treating Nottingham in an exceptional manner.
§ 49. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the public anxiety in regard to the question of the control of aliens in our midst; and when he proposes to give a day for the discussion of the subject as a whole?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I am not aware of public anxiety on this subject, but if there is any general desire for discussion I will arrange for it.
§ 63. Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Baron von Bissing, a brother of a German general holding a high command in 710 Belgium, is permitted to reside at Hove in a house directly overlooking the sea, from which signalling operations might easily be carried on; if he is aware that this person since the outbreak of the War has openly expressed German sympathies, and his presence in the district is generally regarded by the inhabitants as a danger; if he will state the reasons which have led the War Office to acquiesce in his continued residence in the prohibited area and upon whose recommendation this privilege has been granted; and if he is subjected to any restrictions or supervision?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty answered a question regarding this gentleman on the 8th instant. Baron von Bissing is believed to be a half-brother of the German general. He is a naturalised British subject, and his domicile is at Hove. The War Office has no information to support the suggestion made in the second part of the question. As regards the third part, there is no reason to think this is the case. In reply to the fourth and fifth parts, as Baron von Bissing is a British subject, no question of prohibited areas arises. There are no other restrictions than are applied to the other inhabitants, and, as regards supervision, I can assure the hon. Member that everything necessary in this and similar cases has been done and will be done.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since he was naturalised, this person, although ostensibly engaged in journalism, was really doing secret service work for the German Foreign Office?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, I am not aware of anything of the kind. My reports are quite in the contrary sense.
§ Mr. WALTER LONGDo not the Government think that in the case of men, whether naturalised or not, who are connected by close family ties to the enemy, and in this case to an enemy in active work, special restrictions should be applied?
§ Mr. TENNANTIn this case special care has been taken to ascertain the predilections of the gentleman in question, and special supervision has been given.
§ Mr. LONGIs it not common knowledge that in Belgium men as to whose predilections, as the right hon. 711 Gentleman describes them, knowledge of the most accurate kind was believed to be possessed, were found after the outbreak of hostilities to be actively engaged in assisting the enemy? Is it possible for any Government Department, however well served, to be really certain as to the action of a man who is closely related to the enemy, and whose near relative is filling a very important military post in Belgium at the present time?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe right hon. Gentleman speaks of "common knowledge." I do not think it is common knowledge that ought to guide a Government Department. After all, that is only rumour. I do not think it is possible or allowable that a Government Department entrusted with this most responsible work should be guided by what is known as "common knowledge." I think they should be guided by their own individual actions and inquiries, and in this case there have been most special inquiry and supervision.
§ Mr. LONGThe right hon. Gentleman really misunderstands me when he comments on my use of the words "common knowledge." Does he not know that the common knowledge to which I referred is based upon cases actually tried in Brussels, in which capital punishment was inflicted upon the people convicted?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat may be so.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman make further investigations?
§ 64. Mr. J. MASONasked whether any case has arisen where an enemy alien after being interned has been released contrary to the recommendation of the local police authority, or where the recommendation of the local police authority that an enemy alien should be interned has been disregarded?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo alien enemy has been released from internment when the police report gave reasonable ground for supposing that he was, or might, become dangerous. The general directions issued to the police gave them authority to intern at their discretion those whom they considered dangerous and special recommendations have not been required.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Baker)I am not aware of any such case.
§ Sir RICHARD COOPERIs not Hertfordshire a case where it has happened?
§ Mr. BUTCHERI will give the hon. Gentleman information.