14. Sir F. HALLasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that, following upon a number of previous convictions for crime, Philip Lewis, a Russian, was sentenced recently at Manchester Assizes to three years' penal servitude for housebreaking; whether he is aware that on two occasions this alien has been recommended for de- 1401 portation; and if he will state why these recommendations have not been given effect to?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the case of Phillip Lebovitch, who has been convicted and recommended for deportation as stated. He is believed to have been born in Petrograd, and came to this country with his parents at the age of three. In the absence, however, of any evidence of his nationality, it has proved impossible to secure his recognition as a Soviet citizen, and he cannot, therefore, be returned to Russia.
Sir F. HALLMay I ask how long this country is going to be a place of refuge for these people who would not be allowed in their own country–the débris of Continental cities?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSOf course, my hon. and gallant Friend can hardly regard a baby of three as débris. That was the age at which he came over, and, if he has become so bad as he has, one must consider, perhaps, that he became bad while lie was here.
Sir F. HALLHave not the learned Judges given consideration to these cases, and is it not true that this is the third time he has been ordered for deportation? Does not my right hon. Friend think that the learned Judges would give due consideration to all the facts of the case? We do not want these people here.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am inclined to agree with my hon. and gallant Friend, but I cannot turn a man out of this country unless he is a citizen of some other country which is prepared to take him. It may be very difficult to establish where anybody was born many years ago, and I cannot establish with certainty that this man was born in Petrograd.