§ 59. Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Home Secretary whether he has now been able to make inquiries into the case of an enemy alien who has returned to Manchester and has been carrying on business in that city in what is, apparently, a permanent business capacity?
§ Mr. BAIRDYes, Sir; and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is obliged to the hon. and gallant Member for giving him this opportunity of removing the misapprehensions with regard to this case. The hon. and gallant Member said in his speech on the Aliens Bill, on 13th November, that he could give two cases in support of his statement that men who have been fighting against us had been already restored to this country, and were settled 1133 in business here. He has since informed my right hon. Friend that the two cases turn out to be one and the same. The Home Secretary has made inquiry, and finds that the case is one of an Austrian who, after full consideration, was given leave to land in the United Kingdom on 7th September for the purpose of re-establishing cotton exports from British firms to the Continent. He was to stay only for a limited period; that period has expired, and he left more than a month ago.