§ 22. Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary what action has been taken in order to control the alien crews of neutral steamers that arrive in the Port of London; if, while the crews are kept on board all steamers while they are in the docks of London, the officers of the steamers are freely allowed ashore; what military or police control there is over steamers that are unloaded in the River Thames or at the private wharves adjoining the river; and whether he will consider the necessity of revising the present, police regulations?
§ Sir G. CAVEThis is a matter which has received the close attention of the naval and military authorities and of my Department since the beginning of the War, and steps are taken, whenever the conditions allow, to improve and strengthen the control. It is not the case that officers of neutral ships are freely allowed ashore. It is with regard to neutral ships from neutral European ports that special watchfulness is necessary, and in this case permission to land is confined to the master for the necessary business of the ship, to the steward or other 1469 responsible officer for the purpose of provisioning the ship, and, if necessity arises, to the chief engineer. The permits are granted only when shown to be strictly necessary, and are limited to specified hours. In order to prevent unauthorised landing from these ships, military guards are provided, and they co-operate with the aliens officers and the police in securing that the regulations are strictly observed.