§ Captain BERKELEY(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the serious allegations made by Mr. E. C. Mordaunt as to the conditions to which British subjects are subjected at Ellis Island; whether he will at once cause the statements of this gentleman to be investigated both here and by the British representative in America; and whether he will make a statement before the rising of the House as to the steps which His Majesty's Government propose in order to protect British subjects from these indignities?
§ Mr. McNEILLHis Majesty's Government possess no information with regard to Mr. Mordaunt's allegations, beyond what has appeared in the Press. I shall however be glad to arrange for this gentleman to have an interview at the Foreign Office should he so desire. His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Washington is being instructed to make immediate inquiries into Mr. Mordaunt's case. The question of controlling the number of emigrants from this country to the United States of America, with a view to prevent the exceeding of the quota, is being examined. Meanwhile His Majesty's Government do not consider it advisable to make a statement in Parliament, but Sir A. Geddes' Report on the conditions prevailing at Ellis Island, drawn up in January last, is about to be laid as a Parliamentary Paper.
§ Viscount CURZONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Mordaunt is only one of fifty-one, and if the others or any of them are able and willing to come forward, will he receive their statements?
§ Mr. McNEILLI have no doubt we shall be glad to receive all the information available.