§ 73. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain why Egyptians resident in London, who were informed by the Home Office last December that they had ceased to be enemy aliens, are now informed by the police authorities that they are enemy aliens; and whether he will definitely define their status here and not have them subjected to more annoyance than is consistent with that?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir J. Simon)Ever since Egypt became a British Protectorate, Egyptians have been in the position of alien friends, and have been treated as such. The Metropolitan police took off the register of alien enemies all who were known to be Egyptians, but in the case 1798 upon which this question is based and one or two others, the individuals were not previously identified as Egyptians, and had not taken any steps whatever to claim the status of Egyptians and to have their names removed from the register of alien enemies. As soon as they made their status known, their names were removed from the register. I understand none of them have been interned.