74. Mr. DOYLEasked the Home Secretary the number of German aliens who have been allowed to land on these shores since the signing of the Armistice; how many of these have been admitted since the beginning of the present year; and what steps are being taken to prevent the landing of German aliens under cover of Swiss and Scandinavian passports?
§ Mr. SHORTTDetailed statistics from the date of the Armistice up to 1st July, 1919, are not available, but practically 225 the only persons of German nationality who were admitted to the United Kingdom during that period were British-born wives or widows and their children. Between 1st July and 31st December, 1919, 925 Germans were admitted, of whom 550 were British-born wives or widows, and of the remainder, the great majority were the children of such wives or widows. Between 1st January and 30th April, 1920, 1,554 Germans were admitted, of whom 586 were British-born wives or widows and their children. The hon. Member will recollect that the landing of former enemy aliens, other than British-born women, in this country is governed by Section 10 (1) of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919, which lays down inter alia that permission may be given only for short periods. The passports and other papers of all aliens entering the United Kingdom are carefully scrutinised, and there is no reason to fear that Germans are gaining admission under the guise of Swiss or Swedish subjects.