§ 20. Mr. R. LAMBERTasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many men interned as alien enemies have sons fighting in our Armies and a large number have lost sons so fighting; and whether he will give instructions that inquiries shall be made in all internment camps how many such cases exist, giving to men interned the assurance that the information will be respected and not used to injure themselves or their sons in our Armies?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am aware that a number of alien enemies interned in this country have sons serving in the British Army, and that some of them have had sons killed in action. I think it undesirable to make the inquiries suggested at the present moment.
§ Mr. MORRELLWould not the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of allowing the services of these sons to be reckoned when the question of the release of the father comes up?
§ Sir G. CAVEIt depends on the conditions of the sons' service. The point is not forgotten when the case arises.
§ 22. General CROFTasked the Home Secretary whether any members of the police force are of enemy birth, and whether any members of the police force have been naturalised since 1914?
§ Sir G. CAVESo far as the Metropolitan Police Force is concerned, it has been the rule for over thirty years that only natural-born British subjects can be admitted to the force, and I think this is the general rule in the police forces of the United Kingdom. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ 53. General McCALMONTasked the Prime Minister whether the Regulations affecting aliens of enemy origin are the same for Ireland as for Great Britain; if so, who is responsible for similarity in administration; and whether all future Regulations will be as rigorously enforced in Ireland as elsewhere?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)The Aliens Restriction Act, 1914, and the Defence of the Realm Regulations affecting aliens of enemy origin apply equally to Ireland and to Great Britain, and the administration of the Regulations is similar, being carried out by the competent naval or military authority and the Chief Secretary.
§ 76. General McCALMONTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the number of aliens of enemy origin in Ireland who are at present un-interned?
§ Sir G. CAVEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question, as the central records as to alien enemies, to whom I assume the hon. and gallant Member refers, are kept by my Department. According to the latest available 148 figures, the number of uninterned male alien enemies in Ireland is 170, namely, 125 Germans, forty Austrians, four Turks, and one Bulgarian.
§ General McCALMONTAre we to understand that although the administration of these Regulations is in the hands of the Chief Secretary, the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary keeps the register of them?
§ Sir G. CAVEOf course, the Chief Secretary has got it.
§ Mr. FRANCECan the right hon. Gentleman give a definition of an "alien of enemy origin"?
§ Sir G. CAVEMy answer applies to alien enemies properly so called. I have not attempted to deal with aliens of enemy origin.