§ 45. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister how many persons of hostile origin or association, within the meaning of the regulation issued by Order in Council dated 12th of June, 1915, are in employment at the Treasury, the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, and the War Office, respectively; and whether such persons are to be retained in their employment during the continuance of the War?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I am informed that British-born subjects alone are employed as Civil servants in the offices named. There is no case to which the regulation referred to applies.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs it not a fact that one of the clerks in one of these Departments has a father who has been naturalised since the War; that the father was a German and has been naturalised since the War?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHow can I tell that without notice?
§ Mr. McNEILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it important that in these particular Departments it is due to public feeling in this country that the employment should be restricted not only to British-born subjects but to those whose origin and associations are free from objection?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no reason to doubt that all the gentlemen who are employed at these various offices are most loyally serving the country. If the hon. Gentleman can bring any specific case to my attention, I will look into it.