ALIENS. (Hansard, 15 February 1915)

HC Deb 15 February 1915 vol 69 cc874-97 874

§ 12. Mr. PETO
asked the Home Secretary whether the granting of British naturalisation papers free of charge to alien 875 seamen producing proof that they have served for three years out of the last eight years in British ships has now been abolished?

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)
The system by which facilities to become naturalised used to be given to seamen is at present in abeyance, and the whole matter is under the consideration of the Home Office and the Admiralty and other Departments concerned.

§ 13. Mr. BUTCHER
asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the orders made by the competent military authority after the Scarborough raid for the removal of aliens from the East Coast were, as has been stated by the War Office, not invalid, and in view of the fact that the War Office is the proper authority to deal with these matters, he will state why the official letter from the Home Office to the War Office of the 1st January, 1915, suggested that such orders were invalid?

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)
I received complaints that orders which it was alleged were made by me were invalid, and were inflicting grave hardship not on aliens but on British subjects. In these circumstances I referred the matter to the War Office, which is, as the hon. and learned Member says, the proper authority to deal with the questions whether the orders were valid and whether they were justified by the circumstances.

§ Mr. BUTCHER
Will the right hon. Gentleman circulate copies of the letters with the Votes?

§ Mr. McKENNA
No, I do not think it is necessary to do so. They are ordinary Departmental letters, and do not raise any question of policy.

§ 36. Mr. PETO
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the case of Arnold Singewald, a German alien enemy, 876 who was in the employment of Messrs. Tennant and Company, brewers, of Glasgow, at the time of the outbreak of War, and who was interned near Edinburgh and subsequently at York Castle; whether he can state the circumstances of his release; and whether he now occupies a lucrative position in the employment of Messrs, Rowntree and Company, cocoa manufacturers, of York?

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)
This case has been inquired into exhaustively. He was released because inquiries showed that there was nothing against him. He was also vouched for by a number of persons, including a Member of this House, all of whom had known him personally for a long time. Those responsible satisfied themselves that Mr. Singewald could support himself, but they did not concern themselves as to whether he had an appointment which might be called lucrative. I am informed that his application for employment by Messrs. Rowntree was not accepted.
Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will allow me to add that I do not suppose there is any personal significance to be attached to the name in the question; but I may say that the firm mentioned is not connected with me, and I may add that the name is incorrectly spelt.

§ Mr. PETO
Will the right hon. Gentleman say on whose behalf or at whose instigation the inquiries were made into the position of this alien?

§ Mr. TENNANT
Inquiries are made into many cases without any instigation from outside.

§ 41. Sir J. LONSDALE
asked the Under-Secretary for War if the special inquiries into the case of Baron von Bissing, of Hove, were made under his directions by the local police; if he has been informed by the chief constable whether notice was given to Baron von Bissing that his house would be searched; and if he will institute an independent investigation of the character and antecedents of this person, irrespective of any reports from the local police?

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§ Mr. TENNANT
The special inquiry and supervision to which I referred on Thursday have been pursued continuously over a long period, beginning before the outbreak of hostilities, and have been made both with the assistance of and independently of the police. After what occurred on Thursday, I asked that a special inquiry should be made into all the circumstances connected with this naturalised person, and I have been assured that as the supervision has been so careful and continuous, no useful purpose would be served by instituting any special investigation.

§ Sir J. LONSDALE
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that several gentlemen offered to give evidence against this person, but they were not called upon to do so?

§ Mr. TENNANT
That may be so. It is much more important that the investigation should be conducted continuously than that a mere outside agency should take it up.

§ Sir J. LONSDALE
Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that, in view of the great suspicion against this person, we should give ourselves the benefit of the doubt, and place him where he would not be able to do mischief?

§ Mr. TENNANT
I have given myself the benefit of the doubt, and have satisfied myself that no further investigation is necessary, because everything is known.

§ Sir J. LONSDALE
Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to add to the information which he already possesses?

§ Mr. TENNANT
I shall be very glad if the hon. Gentleman will be so good.

§ Mr. BUTCHER
When there is the intention to search the house of a suspected person, is it not very undesirable that notice of that intention should be given?

§ Mr. TENNANT
Of course. That is why I rather deprecate questions as to individuals. Obviously it only puts the person on his guard.

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§ Mr. BUTCHER
Was notice given in this case?

§ Mr. TENNANT
Not that I am aware of.

§ 42. Mr. BUTCHER
asked how many aliens, naturalised or otherwise, were removed from the East Coast under the orders issued for that purpose by the competent military authority for that district prior to the receipt of the telegram from the War Office of 1st January, 1915, directing that such order should be suspended; how many of such aliens have been so removed since that date; and how many cases are still under consideration?

§ Mr. TENNANT
The answer to the first point is "none." As regards the second, 28 persons have left the district as a result of removal orders since the orders were suspended on 1st January. There are 414 cases still under consideration.

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