§ 37. Mr. STOKERasked the Home Secretary whether he recognises the volume of resentment which is felt, not only by all business men, but by the community generally, throughout the country, and which is especially evident in Manchester and district, at the apparent exemption of neutral and recently enemy aliens from all claims for military and/or national service, more particularly in view of the calling up of older men who find themselves entirely supplanted by this alien competition and their businesses ruined; if he will say what steps he proposes taking to rectify this state of affairs; and if his attention has been drawn to the resolution of the board of directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, voicing the views of the business community, which was recently forwarded to him?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)If by "recently enemy aliens" the hon. Member means naturalised British subjects of enemy origin, I would point out that they are under precisely the same liabilities as regards military or national service as other British subjects. They do not enjoy any special exemption. Aliens belonging to neutral countries cannot be called upon for military service, and there are obvious difficulties in the way of requiring them to undertake national service, with respect to which. British subjects are under no compulsion. I have received the resolution referred to, and am making inquiries as to the facts on which it is based.