§ 25. Mr. R. MCNEILLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the following persons of alien nationality or alien extraction, or any and which of them, have yet been interned, in pursuance of the change of policy in that respect recently announced by the Prime Minister, namely. Count Paul Metternich. Count Albrecht von Bassewitz, Von Bissing, half-brother of the German Military Governor of Brussels, Sehmer, residing at Toat Farm, Pul-borough, Kuehnrich, residing at Holly Court, Sheffield. Sachs, residing at South Foreland House, St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe, Frau Weil, residing at The Mount, St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe, Fraulein von Muhlmann, lately residing at No. 17, Trebovir Road, Earl's Court, and Fraulein Schneider, residing at Berwick-on-Tweed?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)Of the nine names in the question, three are those of women, and it is not, and never has been, the policy of the Government to intern women. Of the remaining six, three are naturalised British subjects, and an Order in Council to cover such cases is being obtained. Of the remaining three, two are German subjects, one of which is interned and the other of which was released from internment in October last by the military authorities in circumstances explained by the Under-Secretary of State for War in reply to a question on the 15th March. The remaining name, Mr. Sachs, is that of a British-born British subject who has been for years engaged in most useful and public-spirited work for the country.
§ Mr. MCNEILLAm I not right in saying that the policy announced by the Prime Minister was that women of alien nationality were to be returned to Germany, and has that been done in this case?
§ Sir J. SIMONThat is so. The question I was asked, however, was which of these persons has been interned. It is quite true that as regards women repatriation is the policy which is being pursued, and will be pursued.
§ Mr. McNEILLHas it been pursued in this case?
§ Sir J. SIMONI cannot say.