§ 4. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects have been refused permission to land in the United States since 1st January, 1921, on the grounds of moral turpitude; and in how many of those cases was assistance given or attempted by His Majesty's Government or by His Majesty's representatives in America?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have no information which would enable me to reply to the first part of the question. With the exception of the case which has formed the subject of recent questions in this House, no request for assistance has been received by my Department since the date referred to, but it is part of the duty of the British Consular officers in foreign countries to afford British subjects who are in any difficulty such assistance as they properly can.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman assure me that the same degree of assistance will be granted to persons, notwithstanding what their social standing is, in all cases?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes. There is no shadow of ground for the suggestion that any class distinctions are made in a matter of this kind.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACan the right hon. Gentleman say exactly what assistance was given in the case to which he refers?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI cannot say that. I received a communication, and I replied—I only know my own minutes; I cannot state the actual terms of the telegram—that the Consul-General would give whatever assistance was possible and proper.
§ 5. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any knowledge of a British subject named Celina Chippendale who has been detained for several weeks at the immigration headquarters at Boston, and was deported on the 21st February in the steamship "Aurania" on the grounds of moral turpitude; whether his assistance or the assistance of His Majesty's representatives in the United States was sought by this woman or her friends; and whether any assistance was given, offered or attempted?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe case was brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government by the United States Gov eminent because they desired to deport Celina Chippendale, who was believed to be a British subject, to this country on the ground of "moral turpitude." I have received no communication from Mrs. Chippendale nor on her behalf, and so far as I am aware, no request for assistance was received by the British authorities in the United States.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider instructing our Consul-General in America to watch these cases, especially those of poor people who will not know how to communicate with him?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not think the Consul-General can know all about these cases unless application is made to him.
§ 6. Captain FAIRFAXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that, quite apart from Ellis Island detention of immigrants, English business men, with non-immigrant passports and credentials in good order, have been detained at El Paso, on the Mexican frontier, and subjected to expense and hardship; and if he will make diplomatic representations to the United States Government on this subject?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo such case has been brought to my notice. But if the hon. and gallant Member will let me have the details of any specific case I will make inquiries.