HC Deb 19 June 1918 vol 107 cc329-31
20. Mr. A. RICHARDSON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British civilians now interned in Germany and in Holland, respectively, are naturalised British subjects of German birth; and whether the Government will take steps to prevent these men from being sent back to England during the War under any treaty for repatriation of British civilians?

Mr. JAMES HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)

Exact statistics are not at present available, but the number is known to be considerable. The question of distinguishing between different classes of British subjects in this connection is a difficult one, but I am referring the point to the Home Secretary.

Mr. RICHARDSON

Have any of these men of German birth been brought back to this country?

Mr. HOPE

I think so, but I should have to have notice. I know one case of such a gentleman being brought back, but he was subsequently interned in England.

Mr. RICHARDSON

Will you intern them all? All Germans are potential spies.

Mr. HOPE

I am afraid my hon. Friend must wait for the Home Secretary's return.

21. Mr. RICHARDSON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the transfer of British civilians from Germany to Holland for internment under The Hague agreement has been suspended owing to lack of accommodation in Holland; and whether the Government will make arrangements for this accommodation to be increased?

Mr. HOPE

The number of places which the Netherland Government undertook to provide for British invalid civilians has been filled. The question of further accommodation is one of many with which the British delegates at The Hague are concerned. The matter is complicated by the food situation in Holland, and it is possible that it will prove easier to proceed by direct repatriation than by any extension of the internment system.

General Sir IVOR PHILIPPS

Will my hon. Friend consider whether he cannot send food from this country to our prisoners interned in Holland in the same way as to our prisoners of war in Germany?

Mr. HOPE

I will consider that, but I do not know how to do it. It is one of the questions that my right hon. Friend and his colleagues have before them during their stay at The Hague.

Sir I. PHILIPPS

We should like to know whether the objections to sending food to our prisoners interned in Holland are raised by the Dutch Government or by our Government?

Mr. HOPE

I do not think that I can answer that question straight off. It is quite obvious that it must require the consent of the Dutch Government.

Sir I. PHILIPPS

Has it been asked?

Mr. HOPE

I do not know whether any formal demand has been made by my right hon. Friend, but I know that he and his colleagues were fully seised of the matter when they went there.

32. Mr. A. RICHARDSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office are now satisfied that many of our men taken prisoners by the Germans have never been reported by Germany as having been so taken, and that such men have been used by the Germans in close proximity to their firing line and have sustained heavy casualties from our shell-fire; and what steps the Government propose to take by way of reprisals to prevent the repetition of these outrages upon the rules of civilised warfare?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to similar questions on the 30th May last. Perhaps my hon. and learned Friend would await the result of the Conference now sitting at The Hague.