§ 43. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to set up a Scottish tribunal to deal with the question of the internment of aliens and naturalised aliens in Scotland; and whether he can announce the names of the members of the tribunal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis question is still under consideration.
§ 44. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement to show how the property of alien enemies will be treated under the scheme for the internment of alien enemies?
§ 49. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to indicate how the property of aliens repatriated will be treated; and what property they will be allowed to take with them?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Prime Minister has asked me to reply to these questions. The whole question of the property of alien enemies interned or repatriated is under consideration.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWhen will the right hon. Gentleman be able to make a statement on the procedure to be adopted in this case?
§ Mr. McKENNAI hope very shortly.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILCould the right hon. Gentleman say when?
§ Mr. McKENNAI hope when the House adjourns.
§ Lord CLAUD HAMILTONIs it correct that His Majesty's Government have given permission to Baron von Kuhlmann, late Councillor to the German Embassy, to remove his effects from this country?
§ Mr. McKENNAI must have notice of that question to know the circumstances.
Sir HENRY DALZIELasked the Home Secretary whether Germans becoming naturalised British subjects are required to renounce their German allegiance before naturalisation; and whether, unless they are granted special denationalisation papers by Germany, they are not still regarded by the German Government as German subjects and liable to be treated as such in the event of their return to that country?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware of any case in which a certificate of naturalisation has been granted to a German who had not been absent from Germany sufficiently long to have lost his German nationality under German law, or who would not, under the law by the fact of naturalisation in this country, lose his German nationality. We have not, however, proceeded on the lines of depending on declarations made by an applicant in regard 1980 to previous nationality, because if the applicant was applying for British naturalisation in bad faith no declaration made by him would be of the smallest value. We have taken the better course of obtaining in every case evidence from trustworthy persons, which we have verified so far as humanly possible by investigation, to the effect that the applicant has completely identified himself with this country and is under no obligation to his original country.
§ Sir E. CARSONIs it not the fact that under our own Naturalisation Act of 1870 these naturalised Germans when they go back to their own country again become German citizens?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, not under our Act. There is nothing in our law to compel the German Government to accept them as German citizens.
Sir H. DALZIELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware—notwithstanding his very interesting reply—whether they are asked to give up their allegiance to Germany?
§ Mr. McKENNAThey could not, because in no case would they retain allegiance to Germany.
Sir H. DALZIELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Attorney-General made exactly the opposite statement last week?
§ Lord ROBERT CECILCan a German subject lose his German allegiance without the consent of the German Government?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe difficulty with regard to the German law has been this, that it has been altered from time to time to suit the convenience of the German Government, and has also been administered in accordance with the convenience of the German Government. Consequently no precautions taken on this side by way of declaration or otherwise would have the smallest effect in preventing the German Government hereafter interpreting their own law as they please. We have not proceeded upon the basis of asking declarations, but have insisted upon independent testimony from independent persons as to character, intentions, and obligations.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the German Government claim allegiance from Germans in every part of the world?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am advised that has not been the case in the past, but I quite admit that it may be the case to-morrow, for the German Government have never manifested that deep respect for written documents which other Governments have shown.
Sir HENRY DALZIELasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the widespread belief that the question of obtaining naturalisation by Germans is largely one of the amount of powerful influence which can be brought to bear in favour of the applicant, he can see his way to state that no German chauffeur at present in the employment of any Cabinet Minister has been granted naturalisation since the outbreak of the War?
§ Mr. McKENNAA certificate of naturalisation was given to the chauffeur of a Cabinet Minister on the 8th August. The circumstances of the case give no ground for any belief that the question of obtaining naturalisation by Germans is largely or at all one of the amount of powerful influence that can be brought to bear in favour of the applicants.
Sir H. DALZIELMay I ask what public interest is served in granting these Germans naturalisation after the War broke out; and also why, in view of that fact, men who have lived here for forty years, and who have never been in Germany at all, have been refused?
§ Mr. McKENNAI must ask the right hon. Gentleman to give me further notice, and I will give him the information he desires. I repudiate the suggestion that naturalisation papers have been granted owing to pressure; on the contrary, there is nothing from which I have suffered so much as the refusal of naturalisation papers, in spite of very powerful influence brought to bear.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMWill the right hon. Gentleman allow the House an opportunity to see the document which he showed to me, and they will find that there is nothing whatever in the charge against the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. McKENNAI shall be very happy to give the facilities.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWill the Prime Minister undertake to state the conditions under which naturalised and non-naturalised aliens will be allowed to 1982 remain in this country, and of the composition of the Advisory Board, before the House adjourns on Wednesday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will try to do so.
§ Sir J. D. REESasked whether the police were authorised to intervene in the case of the employment by officers of Naval and Military forces of German male or female servants?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.