§ 1. Captain FAIRFAXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, to obviate detention of British subjects at Ellis Island, he will negotiate with the United States of America to secure that their Consuls' visas granted here should be a final authority for British subjects to enter the United States unless some offence is committed or infectious disease discovered after the granting of the visa; and, failing a satisfactory arrangement, if he will consult with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the expediency of instituting suitable reprisals?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir AUSTEN Chamberlain)Under the law both of the United States and this country, the decision whether an alien shall or shall not be allowed to land rests with the immigration authorities in the country of landing and it is not possible, therefore, to consider the suggestion contained in the hon. and gallant Member's question.
§ Captain FAIRFAXMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman cannot take any steps to get better facilities for business men going to the United States?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not think that arises out of the Question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn these cases, does the right hon. Gentleman or his representative accede to a request for assistance by these unfortunate people if he is asked to intervene?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe Consular authorities will at any time give such assistance as it is proper for them to give in any case where a British citizen is in trouble or distress.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas a general instruction been given to that effect, irrespective of the rank of the person?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIt is the ordinary duty of the Consular authorities.
Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLAre we going to treat persons coming from America on the same lines as the Americans treat people coming from here?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think there is another question on that subject.
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINCannot we leave this subject to the American public and Press, who seem to be able to deal with it very effectively?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADo the Government take any official action in regard to cases like this?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. I do not know exactly upon what the two hon. Gentlemen are basing their questions. If it be upon a statement by the lady in question, that she had communicated with me and received an answer from me, my answer was that the Consular authorities would give her any assistance that was proper, and in their power to give.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask whether the cause of all this complaint is due to the fact that the American Government treat rich and poor alike?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIn the event of the Consular representations proving inadequate, are the Government prepared to give any assistance to British citizens in cases such as this?
§ 4. Sir NEWTON MOOREasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the character of the immigration laws of the United States of America under which a law-abiding British subject has been detained at Ellis Island, and another British citizen under a threat of similar treatment has fled to Canada; and will he, under these circumstances, consider the advisability of conferring with the American authorities with the view of making these Regulations reciprocal?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the answer to the second part is in the negative.
§ Sir N. MOOREIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that even His Majesty's Privy Councillors are not able to get a visa to go to the United States, unless they have a supporting letter from a banker, and is this not a matter that might be inquired into?
§ Sir JOSEPH NALLIs it quite certain that the person referred to in the question was a law-abiding person?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it possible for us to keep people out of this country on the ground of moral turpitude? Has the right hon. Gentleman no power?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThis country has the power to exclude any alien if it wishes to do so. The particular offence charged in this case is classed differently, as I understand, in American law from what is classed with us, and, after all, I do not think we can wisely undertake to dictate, even by questions in this House, to the people of the United States how they shall administer their own laws or what those laws should be.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONCannot we suggest to the American Government that the same treatment should be meted out to their citizens as is meted out to ours?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINWe can administer our laws as we please, and we can make our laws what we think it is right that they should be, but that is an entirely different question.
Lieut.-Colonel DALRYMPLE WHITEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider, as I am sure he will, that in the depressed state of the shipping industry it would be wrong to do anything to prevent the influx of American citizens?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case that if this had been an ordinary member of society, instead of one of the aristocracy of this country, there would have been no question put in this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman cannot be responsible for the questions which Members ask.