§ 115. Mr. NIELDasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that A. J. Sasse, a German subject, carries on business as a baker and confectioner at 327, High Road, Brondesbury, on which premises branch post office business was and still is carried on, the work of which includes telegraphic and telephonic business and affords employment to five female assistants and one male assistant; and whether he has taken any and what steps to secure that public services shall no longer remain under the control or supervision of this German subject?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Hobhouse)The sub-postmaster was naturalised as a British subject in 1892. Inquiries made leave no reason to suppose that he is not perfectly loyal, and I do not propose to take any action against him.
§ 116. Mr. NIELDasked the Postmaster General whether, in response to representations made to him from time to time since the commencement of the War, he has made any Departmental or other inquiry as to persons of German or Austrian birth, whether naturalised or not, holding the office of post or sub-postmasters or mistresses throughout the country, and in charge of telephonic or telegraphic systems; if so, when, and by whom, and in what manner was the inquiry held and was there any Report; and will he undertake to communicate to the House the nature of any Report or the conclusions arrived at as well as the steps, if any, taken by him to carry out any recommendations, or otherwise, to deal with the matter?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave in this House on the 17th instant in reply to a question on this subject put to me by the hon. Member for the Brentford Division of Middlesex. Inquiries were made into each individual case by my own officers who, if necessary, communicated with the police and with other Government Departments. There was no general Report, and I do not see that there is anything more which I can with advantage communicate to the House.