HC Deb 05 July 1916 vol 83 cc1502-3
42. Mr. KING

asked the Home Secretary whether he has already set up the special tribunal to examine aliens who are or may be made liable to military service; if so, who are the members of this tribunal; where and when will the tribunal sit; will its proceedings be public; whether legislation will be necessary to give effect to its decisions; and whether he will state what persons will come under the denomination of political refugees whose case is to be sympathetically considered?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)

The details of this proposal are under consideration. A statement will be made in due course.

Mr. KING

In view of the larger number of these aliens in Glasgow, and also in Manchester, will my right hon. Friend consider either setting up special tribunals for these places or visits to these localities?

Mr. SAMUEL

Yes, the question of setting up tribunals in towns outside London is under consideration.

Mr. E. HARVEY

Will my right hon. Friend give some assurance that in setting up these tribunals due regard will be had to the position of men who have sought refuge in this country on account of their political or religious views?

Mr. SAMUEL

I have already made a statement about that to the effect that those who are political refugees will have their cases considered

53. Colonel YATE

asked the Prime Minister whether, considering the impossibility of distinguishing between a German naturalised in this country who is legally absolved from his German nationality and one who is not so absolved, His Majesty's Government will now take steps to cancel all naturalisation certificates and to re-issue such certificates only to those persons who have finally been certified as legally absolved from their German or other nationality, so as to prevent the possibility of any naturalised subject owing allegiance to two sovereigns at the same time, and to prohibit all changes of name on the part of naturalised aliens?

Mr. SAMUEL

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I have nothing to add at present to my answer to the hon. and gallant Member on the 26th June, and to my speech on the Home Office Vote on 29th June.