§ 50. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the. Prime Minister whether he is making a thorough investigation of the measures taken by the several Government Departments which are interested in the alien question with a view of tightening up the system; and whether he can give the House any information as to such investigation?
51. Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he has received or has knowledge of resolutions passed by various borough councils in the East End of London demanding that a period should now be put to the delay of the Government in dealing with the internment and repatriation of aliens; and can he hold out any hope that the demand formulated by these local authorities that the alien-infested districts of London shall be restored to Britishers will be listened to?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe whole subject is being again investigated by the Government, and a statement will be made as soon as possible after the Home Secretary has returned.
Major NEWMANWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of my question about certain resolutions which have been passed?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes. They have been received.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to place on the Table of the House a list of all the real Members of His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must hand in that question, and let me see it before it is asked.
§ 53. Sir ARTHUR FELLasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been directed to the case of Charles Alfred Vernon, who was employed by the Ministry of Munitions when the name of this man was really Carl Hahn and had been recently changed to that of Vernon; and will be consider the suggestion that no person should enter any post office or Government Department without signing a declaration that the name he bears is his real name and has not been assumed or changed by himself or his parents?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have just given to the hon. Member for Brentford.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTOn whose authority was this man appointed by the Ministry of Munitions?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI should require notice of that.
§ Mr. BILLINGI beg to ask permission at the end of questions to move the Adjournment of the House to call attention to the pernicious influence of aliens in this country to-day.
§ 81. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary if he will state the rules regulating visits to interned alien enemies at the present time, and have they been altered during the last two years?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)The rules vary according to the circumstances of the different places of internment. In the Isle of Man, where visits are necessarily very rare, the matter is left to the discretion of the Island Government. In Islington and the Alexandra Palace, where the prisoners are, almost without exception, men with British wives and children, weekly visits are allowed. As regards Wakefield, the old military rule allowed one visit a month for not more than two relatives and lasting not more than fifteen 712 minutes; but the Commandant was empowered to extend the time up to an hour.
In October, 1916, when the Home Office, at the request of the War Office, took over the responsibility for the visits to interned civilians in all camps, this rule remained in force, but instructions were given to the Commandant (1) not to give extra visits to solicitors and others intended to facilitate the conduct of an enemy business; (2) to use his discretion with regard to the duration of visits from wives and other relatives who had come from a distance; and (3) to refer any special cases to the Home Office for decision. No alteration has been made since October, 1916.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSMay I ask whether these rules will be reconsidered by the Prime Minister? Are they going up to him?
§ Mr. KINGAs these rules are so much more generous than the rules which regulate visits to the Irish interned prisoners, will these latter be placed upon the same basis?
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask whether any distinction is made with regard to the social position of the people who wish to visit interned persons?
§ Mr. BILLINGAre you quite sure? You know better.