§ 22. Mr. STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. Edward Falk for some time District Commissioner at Owerri, in Southern Nigeria, is of German nationality; whether he was recently appointed to a post in Opobo but was withdrawn under protest of the residents there; and whether it is necessary that he should hold a Government appointment under the Crown?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Hewins)The officer referred to is not of German nationality. His father was a Hanoverian who came to England when Hanover was annexed by Prussia, and was naturalised in 1880. Mr. Falk was interned at Ruhleben, and was one of the first two to escape to England. Nothing is known of the alleged incident at Opobo. The third part of the question does not arise.