HC Deb 21 February 1933 vol 274 cc1597-8
75. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take into consideration some relaxation of the Aliens Act to afford refuge to the Marxists from Germany?

Sir J. GILMOUR

No cases such as the hon. Member appears to contemplate have arisen, but the general principle on which the Aliens Order is administered is that aliens are only allowed to come in for residence if their settlement here is consonant with the interests of this country, and I should not be prepared to depart from the principle that the interests of this country must predominate over other considerations.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that our ancestors allowed the Huguenots to come into this country under similar circumstances without any damage to our country or our reputation? Will he be prepared to give an equally felicitous asylum to the persecuted victims of Nazi terrorism in Germany?