§ 67. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Home Secretary whether he has any official information to the effect that the British civilian prisoners selected by the German authorities for exchange who passed through Holland from Germany on the 6th of July included a large proportion of women who are either German wives of British husbands or British wives of German husbands and of children only able to speak German, and that these exchanged prisoners for the most part express German sympathies; and whether all returned 334 prisoners who are either alien enemies or persons of hostile origin or association are immediately interned on arrival in this country?
Mr. SAMUELA party of twenty-two British civilians arrived in this country on the 7th instant. It contained nine men, who were exchanged prisoners; the others were seven women and six children repatriated by the German authorities. Four of the women were German-born wives of British husbands, and some of them and their children could speak very little English. But none were of German nationality; otherwise they would not have been allowed to land. The greatest care is taken in the examination on their arrival in this country of all persons repatriated from Germany, and all proper means are employed to secure that their admission will not involve danger to the realm.
§ Mr. McNEILLHave these women been interned, or are they going to be repatriated?
§ Mr. G. FABERCannot a fair exchange be arranged?