§ 17. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Home Secretary what measures he has undertaken during the past 12 months to deal with alien Communists; and what proportion of those convicted of anti-British propaganda have been deported?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am afraid I cannot attempt to deal with so large and general a subject by way of question and answer. I will only say that the policy of His Majesty's Government is based upon the principle that an alien who engages in subversive activity of any kind while here is abusing the hospitality of this country and' merits expulsion. This policy I have steadily pursued for the last two years, with the result that it is most rare to find an alien at the present time who indulges in such propaganda.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman include in that description ordinary political activities?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI certainly do not, unless the hon. and gallant Member considers that ordinary political activities are subversive. The expression 1340 I used was "subversive propaganda," and where I find aliens abusing the hospitalities of this country by engaging in subversive propaganda I turn them out.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINI ask the right hon. Gentleman to believe that his answer is entirely satisfactory, and will he now turn his attention to the home-bred variety?
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all Socialist propaganda is intended to be subversive of the capitalist system of society?