§ 22. Mr. GIDEON MURRAYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether. under Article 3 of the draft constitution of the Irish Free State, an American citizen with an Irish father or mother may become immediately, and without any term of probation, a citizen of the Irish Free State: and whether, on the other hand, an Englishman, Scotsman, or Welshman must undergo a domiciliary period of seven years before acquiring Irish citizenship?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Churchill)An American citizen whose father or mother was born in Ireland will, at the date when the Constitution comes into operation, be entitled to Free State citizenship if he is then domiciled in the Free State. The Article contains no provision as to any term of probation. An Englishman or Scotsman or Welshman who has at that date been domiciled for seven years in the area of the Irish Free State will similarly be entitled to Free State citizenship. If the hon. Member has in mind the future acquisition of Free State citizenship after the Constitution comes into operation, I must refer him to the answer given to the hon. Member for Rotherham on Tuesday, the 18th July.
§ Mr. MURRAYWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Free State Government, and ask whether they will see, when considering the Constitution, that they place British subjects upon the same basis of equality as far as the privileges of citizenship are concerned as American citizens on the ground that British subjects have had to bear taxation for the trouble taking place in Ireland at the present moment?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think that would be very convenient. I should like to see Englishmen well treated. I think it is quite possible that Englishmen, 2257 Welshmen and Scotsmen who happen to be temporarily resident in Ireland at the moment when the Constitution comes into force would not wish to take up Irish Free State citizenship. I can also quite understand that there are numbers of Irishmen who emigrated to America who would be glad to come home to their native land now that conditions are being established which they will welcome.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think my hon. Friend's rights and prerogatives will be, absolutely unimpaired.