HC Deb 17 August 1916 vol 85 c2047
24. Mr. RICHARD LAMBERT

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of a number of Russian Jews, resident before the War in France, who came over as refugees to this country in August and September, 1914, when Paris was threatened by the German Armies and owing to the action of the French Government in ordering a partial evacuation of the civil population of Paris; whether, seeing that these people had no intention of settling here but have been unable to obtain passports to enable them to return to France or proceed elsewhere, it is proposed to compel such of them as are of military age to serve in the British Army; and whether he will safeguard their interests either by leaving them alone or by granting them such facilities as will enable him to return to France or depart to a neutral country?

Mr. SAMUEL

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for North Somerset on Tuesday last.

Mr. LAMBERT

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that we have refugees also from Belgium?

Mr. SAMUEL

Yes.

Mr. KING

Has my right hon. Friend nothing to add to that, in view of what is now known to the Foreign Office, that these Jews if they were in France could now freely go to America?