§ 120. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the provisions of the German Nationality Statute of 1870 and a German Imperial Statute of 1896, from which it appears that a German subject does not lose his nationality except by virtue of an order or other official document of the State of which he is a subject, or by ten years' continuous residence outside the German Empire, accompanied by omission to register himself in the proper Consular register; and whether, in view of the recent announcement of the Prime Minister as to dealing with naturalised persons of hostile origin, he will ascertain and inform the House how many Germans resident in this country and naturalised since the commencement of the War and in the five previous years, respectively, have lost their German nationality and no longer owe allegiance to the German Emperor?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am aware of the German law on the subject. With regard to the second part of the question, for the reasons which I gave recently in reply to a question, I do not think such an inquiry would be of any value.
§ 121. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation is at present required to state on oath or otherwise that he has lost his German nationality or ceased to owe allegiance to the German Emperor; and whether any inquiries what soever are made on this subject and, if so, of whom?
§ 124. Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Home Secretary if he will require from all persons of German origin in this country to whom certificates of naturalisation have been granted that, as a condition of their retention of such certificates, they shall forthwith formally renounce all allegiance to the German Emperor and produce proof of denationalisation as German subjects?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have nothing to add to the full answer which I gave on this subject last Monday.
§ 122. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the further facts brought to his attention, he will, before granting any further certificates of naturalisation to German alien enemies resident in this country, take the necessary steps to satisfy himself that such persons have, before the certificates are granted, lost their German nationality, and have ceased to owe allegiance to the German Emperor?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs I stated in reply to a recent question, the greatest care is taken to secure, so far as is possible, the object which the hon. and learned Member has in mind.
§ 125. Sir J. D. REESasked the Home Secretary whether he has ascertained, or will ascertain, to what extent, if at all, the German Government recognises the renunciation by its nationals who are naturalised elsewhere, of their original allegiance to Germany?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe German Government alone could give information on this point, and it is obviously impossible at the present time to obtain information from this source.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that no person can renounce his German nationality unless he can produce a certificate of denaturalisation from the German Government, and is that not material to the answer he has just given?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir; I am utterly unable to agree with the hon. Gentleman as to his interpretation of German practice. In practice the nationalisation laws of Germany are administered as the Government pleases.