§ 20. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked how many of the 6,700 uninterned Germans have married English wives and have sons fighting in our Army; and whether he has taken any and, if so, what steps to intern all the others in accordance with the arrangement arrived at in the Debate of the 17th December, 1917?
§ Sir G. CAVENo figures are available to show how many of the uninterned Germans have married British wives or have sons serving in our Army, but it is believed that the great majority of them are in that position. In the Debate of the 17th December last I did not accept these as the only reasons for exemption from internment, and stated expressly that other considerations, such as membership of a friendly race, ill-health, or employment on work of importance to this country in connection with the War, had been 795 taken into account by the Advisory Committee and successive Secretaries of State. I have continued to act upon the principles which I laid down in that Debate.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that membership of a friendly race applies to uninterned Germans?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes, Sir, to some of them; for instance, the Alsatians.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSAre there very many?
§ Mr. BUTCHERHave the exceptions to internment been recommended by the Advisory Committee?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes, Sir.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman really say that in spite of the Debate of the 17th, and the arrangement we thought had been arrived at, he is not going to alter his policy at all?
§ Sir G. CAVENo, Sir. I explained the lines upon which I was acting. I have not made any change.
Mr. CHANCELLORIs it not a fact that a number of these interned Germans are Hanoverians, who are more bitterly hostile than we are to Prussia?
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right lion. Gentleman state how many of these 6,700 uninterned Germans have taken over the one-man businesses of soldiers who are serving in France, and will he see that this practice is not continued?
§ Sir G. CAVEI could not give the number, but as soon as I hear of such cases I look into them at once, and in many cases I have taken action.
§ 21. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked how many German alien enemies have been interned since the 17th December, 1917; and how many have been let out?
§ Sir G. CAVESince the 17th December, 1917, twenty-one male German subjects have been interned, and, apart from those sent out on licence to agricultural employment or other work of national utility, two have been released. These two men were released to join the British or Allied forces.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the men sent out for this purpose are paid a wage; arid who receives that wage?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes, they are paid a wage, and they receive the wage themselves.
§ 22. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked how many alien enemies still reside in prohibited areas?
§ Sir G. CAVEExcluding British-born women, the total number of persons of alien enemy nationality who have permission to reside in "prohibited areas" in England and Wales is, according to the latest available returns, 1,809, of whom about half are women. All these cases have been the subject of careful inquiries by the military authorities and the police, and practically all were specially investigated by the Committee appointed for the purpose, and I would refer the hon. Member to their Report, which has been circulated. All alien enemies whose presence in prohibited areas could be regarded as in any degree dangerous to the State have been removed.
§ 23. Mr. BUTCHERasked whether any inquiry has been made into the character and disposition towards this country of the 10,000 to 12,000 alien enemy women now in this country and uninterned; and whether any reason exists against the repatriation of such of these women as are unable to prove that their presence here is an advantage to this country?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Alien enemy women are not interned, but are repatriated unless they have been granted exemption from repatriation on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee after a careful inquiry in each case, both of the police and of the British-born referees supporting their applications. The reason for exemption varies according to the circumstances of each case. Speaking generally, it is because it would be inhumane to expel them to enemy countries having regard to such considerations as their long residence here, their British-born children, many of whom are serving-in the Army, and the absence of any friends or relations elsewhere. If and when circumstances arise which affect the merits of their exemptions, the women are removed from this country. Since July, 1916, upwards of 700 have gone.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether those people who appeal on their behalf have found any sureties, and, if not, will he see that they do so in the future?
§ Sir G. CAVEIn special cases a bond is given.
§ 24. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether he can state, approximately, how many of the 6,000 or 7,000 uninterned Germans in this country have sons who are engaged in the active fighting forces of this country and how many of the 5,000 or 6,000 uninterned Austrians in this country have been definitely ascertained to be, by reason of their nationality and sympathies, actively friendly to this country?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe figures asked for in the first part of the question are not available. As regards the second part, I cannot give the exact number, but it exceeds 3,000.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill my right hon. Friend ask the Advisory Committee to reconsider from time to time these cases of alien enemies who have been exempted from internment?
§ Sir G. CAVEWherever the least cause is shown for reconsideration, I personally consider it.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSHaving regard to the Debate, would the right hon. Gentleman not ask the Advisory Committee how many of these men have sons fighting in our Army?
§ Sir G. CAVEIf my hon. Friend presses for them, I can have the figures got out, but it means the examination of many thousands of cases, and it will occupy the time of a considerable number of the staff.
§ Mr. MOONEYMay I ask whether it is not a fact that pure Germans are a very small percentage of the total number of interned prisoners, and that the fact, to which the hon. Member referred, of them having sons serving in the British Army is one of the essential points considered by the Advisory Committee?
§ Sir G. CAVEI believe that is so.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSI am sorry that there is an. unfortunate misunderstanding between the right hon. Gentleman and myself as to the Debate. Could we not have the Home Office Vote put down, so as to clear it up by a brief discussion?
§ Sir G. CAVEI will certainly communicate my hon. Friend's suggestion to the Leader of the House.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask whether a number of aliens are permitted to address public meetings?
§ Sir G. CAVENot enemy aliens, but a neutral or a friendly alien is entitled to address a public meeting unless there is an Order prohibiting him from doing, so.