HC Deb 17 February 1915 vol 69 cc1103-5
10. Sir PHILIP MAGNUS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that a large number of German agents are now resident in Zurich with a view to being naturalised as Swiss subjects and in order that, they may gain admission into this country; and, if so, whether, in the event of their arriving, any steps will be taken to keep a close watch on their movements?

Mr. PRIMROSE

The answer is in the negative.

Sir P. MAGNUS

Will the hon. Gentleman cause inquiries to be made as to the truth of the statements in the question? Is he aware that six months' residence in Switzerland is sufficient to enable the Swiss Government to grant naturalisation papers?

Mr. PRIMROSE

I was not aware of it, but I will take the hon. Gentleman's statement.

Sir P. MAGNUS

Will inquiries be made as to the statements in the question?

Mr. PRIMROSE

Yes.

95. Mr. CHARLES PRICE

asked the Home Secretary whether Fritz Gompertz, a Dutch subject, is now detained in Buxton gaol; and, if so, with what offence has he been charged; where was it committed; and on what date?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)

Gompertz was arrested in Belgium by the Belgian authorities in September last. His custody has been undertaken by His Majesty's Government on behalf of the Belgian Government as a temporary arrangement, as no accommodation for prisoners is at present available in Belgium. There are charges against him of espionage which cannot be tried at present, but there are also ample grounds for detaining him as a prisoner of war.

Mr. PRICE

Has this man been informed what he is charged with?

Mr. McKENNA

I think so, but I will make inquiry.

69. Lord CHARLES BERESFORD

asked the Under-Secretary of State 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 investigations justified the suspicion of the police, and in a third examination before a sheriff the prisoner admitted that his first declaration was false, that he was not William Gulden but Frederick Parker Dunbar, that he had served for twenty-four 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 viâ 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 be explain why this man is not to be tried?

Mr. TENNANT

I understand that the facts are substantially as stated. They have been carefully considered both by the military and by the civil authorities, with the result that the circumstances of the case are held not to justify proceedings either by court-martial or in the ordinary courts. In view of Gulden's record, however, it has been decided that he shall be interned.

74. Sir JOHN LONSDALE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if Baron von Bissing, of Hove, was arrested; and if he will state the date of his arrest, the term of his detention, and why he was released and who signed the order for his release?

Mr. TENNANT

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative, and the remaining points do not, therefore, arise.

Sir J. LONSDALE

Do I understand that Baron von Bissing was not arrested?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, that is what I said.