HC Deb 16 November 1916 vol 87 cc970-1
67. Major HUNT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the feeling in the country respecting the number of uninterned enemy aliens, he can say why Herr Herman Schumacher, of 194. Aldersgate Street, although a German, is not interned; why Herr Naphtah Dukas, who has a house in Peckham Rye and a motor car and petrol supply, is uninterned, although his business has been handed over to Miss Reintjes; and will he say why Herr Ejon Friedman, managing director of the Forester Paper Company, is. still uninterned, although his firm competes with a British firm?

Mr. SAMUEL

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question.

As regards Schumacher, I would refer to my answer to the hon. Member for the Bodmin Division on 19th October. Dukas, who is sixty years of age and has been in this country for thirty-four years, and Friedman, an Austrian subject who has been here since he was seventeen years old, were both exempted, the former from repatriation and the latter from internment, on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, and I am not aware of any grounds for departing from these recommendations.

As regards Dukas's motor car, he was allowed by the police to take it out for one hour a week on condition that a British subject was always in charge. This permission was withdrawn at the end of last month.

As regards the Forester Paper Company, I am informed by the Board of Trade that all the shares in this company are now held by British subjects, and that the Advisory Committee, under the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, reported that the business was one which it was desirable should be continued, and that its successful continuance was largely dependent on retaining the services of Friedman. The company employs, I understand, about 120 British workpeople.

Major HUNT

Is not Mr. Dukas rather an expensive man to keep uninterned if he is always to have a British subject to look after him?

Mr. SAMUEL

The British subject is not paid for out of public funds.

Sir H. DALZIEL

Do we understand that he is paid by the gentleman himself?

Mr. SAMUEL

I have no doubt he was, but the permit has now been withdrawn.

107. Major HUNT

asked whether enemy aliens who were naturalised during or before the War can change their names?

Mr. SAMUEL

The answer is in the affirmative.