HC Deb 13 June 1918 vol 106 cc2354-6
14. General McCALMONT

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether questions as to the removal or internment of aliens in important coastal areas in Ireland are dealt with in consultation with the local naval and military authorities direct or with the higher authorities of both forces; and whether he will give the approximate date of the most recent consultation and consequent decision to leave enemy aliens at large on the county Antrim coast?

Mr. SAMUELS

I am making inquiries.

21. Sir EDWARD GOULDING

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the housekeeper at 24, Austin Friars, is Heinrich Henke, an unnaturalised German subject, and that Henke expressed anti-British views on a recent enemy advance; and whether he will consider the advisability of interning this alien?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)

Henke has been exempted from repatriation on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, in view of the facts that he. came to this country at the age of nineteen, has resided here for thirty-nine years, is married to a British born wife, and has a British-born son serving in the Navy. My inquiries show that allegations were made in 1914 and 1915 that he had expressed anti-British views, but these allegations, when investigated by the police, were found to be groundless. No suggestion that he has recently expressed anti-British views has reached me or the police, but if the right hon. Baronet will furnish me with the facts on which the statement in his question is based, I will make further inquiry.

31. General CROFT

asked whether any letters patent have been granted to enemy aliens during the War?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Wardle)

The policy of the Board of Trade throughout the War has been to refuse to grant any letters patent to enemy aliens during the War. The only exceptions to this rule, so far as I am aware, are a very few cases—not, I think, more than three or four in all—where the whole interest in the patent had been assigned for consideration duly paid previous to the War to a British subject, and the grant of the patent was necessary for the protection of the British assignees. The agreement for assignment has, of course, been registered in each case in the Patent Office on the grant of the patent.

General CROFT

Is it not the fact that applications have been received and accepted by the Britsh Patent Office; is it not also the fact that the same thing was happening in the United States of America, and that President Wilson put an end to it; and may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if his attention has been called to the fact that there have been actual cases as late as 1917? Might I refer him— [HON. MEMBERS: Order!"] Has he seen the question—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Member ought to put some of those questions on the Paper. He has asked at least three or four.

General CROFT

May I ask a simple question with regard to one case? If the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the fact that—

Mr. SPEAKER

Perhaps it would be better to put that question down. The hon. and gallant Gentleman cannot expect the Minister to carry the details of all these cases in his head.

General CROFT

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I say that I have asked this question twice or thrice already—

Mr. SPEAKER

Then the hon. and gallant Member ought to be satisfied.