CLAUSE 3.—(Provisions as to Naturalisation Certificates.) (Hansard, 6 August 1918)

Sir H. DALZIEL
I understand that it is the intention to appoint a committee to operate under the powers of this Bill. That will be separate from the Advisory Committee, and also apart from the committee appointed to deal with aliens in Government Departments. I do not know whether it would be convenient for the right hon. Gentleman to tell us how soon he hopes to be able to announce this Committee, and, if possible, the character of the Committee.

§ Sir G. CAVE
I hope to be able to do so within a few days. I am now considering it. I cannot say more than that.

Sir H. DALZIEL
Will they proceed to business at once?

§ Sir G. CAVE
I hope so.

§ Mr. HEMMERDE
I want to know something about this Clause which has been transplanted from the first Clause. In the third Sub-section there is a provision which says that The Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, before making such Order, refer the case for such inquiry as is hereinafter specified, and in any case to which Sub-section (1) or paragraphs (a), (b), (d) or (f) of this Sub-section applies, the Secretary of State shall, by notice given to or sent to the last known address of the holder of the certificate give him an opportunity of claiming that the case be referred for such inquiry. Now that we have transplanted this Clause, how are you going to deal with the case of a naturalised alien coming under Clause 3? Bow is he or she going to be made aware that his or her case is going to be considered? The Clause does not make any provision for that at all. The case which I have in mind is that of a person who has been made a British citizen, and who is abroad at the present time. I raised the question on the Second Reading of the Bill, because I did not think that it is provided for. Now that it is transplanted to another place in the Bill it is even less provided for. I want some assurance that nobody's case will be considered until he is affected by the notice. It is not sufficient to leave notice at the last known address of a person who has been abroad a couple of years, perhaps nursing at the front.

§ Sir G. CAVE
I am quite sure that no Committee of the character in question here will inquire into a case without such notice as can be given being given. Of course, if the person is out of reach it cannot be helped.

§ Sir G. CAVE
I beg to move, "That the House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."
This is a matter of substance. The House will remember that the Home Office adopted the practice, before this Bill was introduced, that no enemy alien should be naturalised for five years after the War. When the Bill was in Committee in this House an Amendment was made making that statutory. The period proposed was five years. I accepted the Amendment. In another place the proposal was made that the period should be fifteen years. After some discussion a period of ten years was agreed to. No logical argument can be brought forward either for five or ten years. I thought myself that five years was a reasonable time. When the matter was discussed the other day at the Imperial Conference there was considerable difference of opinion. Canada and South Africa expressed unwillingness to limit their powers for any period whatever, while the other Dominions, Australia and New Zealand, took the other view. So I am afraid that in this matter there must for some time be divergence of practice between the Mother Country and some of the Dominions. As between five and ten years there is very little to be said. Each part of the Empire can judge for itself. I move that we agree with the Lords Amendment.