HC Deb 21 November 1916 vol 87 cc1217-8
104. Mr. SHIRLEY BENN

asked the Home Secretary whether in the case of aliens who came here from countries which are now enemy countries and who were naturalised under the Naturalisation Act of 1870, with its qualifications, and who are now entitled to apply for certificates of naturalisation under Clause 6 of the Aliens Act of 1914, with its privileges, duties, and obligations, he will arrange that they shall take a fresh oath of allegiance and forswear allegiance, wherever they may be, to foreign potentates, especially to the ruler of the country whence the individual came?

Mr. SAMUEL

I find that there have been only two cases in which a person naturalised under the Act of 1870 has been granted a new certificate under Section 6 of the Act of 1914; one was a Dane, the other an Italian. In present circumstances, I do not think any ease is likely to arise in which I could grant a certificate under that Section to a person who originally came from an enemy country.