§ 62. Sir G. Foxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who vouched for the reliability of enemy alien Wilhelm Solf, who was convicted of photographing a crashed aeroplane near Abingdon; with whom he was living, and whether that person is in any way connected with Government work; and whether any investigation is to be made into the action and attitude of those persons who, when the photographs in question were taken, were present and helped it being done?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)I do not think it would be right for me to publish the names of persons who give information about individual aliens but I can assure my hon. Friend that those who gave information about Solf were persons of standing and reliability who were able from personal knowledge of Solf and his family to testify as to his attitude to this country. Solf was living in the house of Mr. Rowse, who, I am informed, is the Controller of machine tools under the Ministry of Supply. As regards the last part of the Question, action has already been taken; Miss Rowse who accompanied Solf and abetted him in taking the photograph intended for the family collection was bound over in her own recognizances for a period of one year.
§ Mr. ThurtleCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the Home Office has received any apology from the sponsors of this particular individual?
§ Mr. PeakeNo, Sir, we have not had any communication from the sponsors of this particular man, but I might add, however, that, while the photographs in question have no military value, we are deeply concerned at the reckless and foolish disregard of the special restrictions upon aliens shown by this undergraduate?
Captain GrahamIs not my hon. Friend aware that even only moderately informed people knew perfectly well that Mr. Wilhelm Solf's father was a most 27 notorious Anglophobe—Dr. Solf, a President of the German Kolonial Bund and Ambassador to Japan—and surely should not this have made the Home Office very suspicious?
§ Mr. PeakeOur information on that point and of those who stood sponsor for him is precisely to the contrary.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Acland-TroyteCannot the Government take some action against the people who vouched for this man?
§ Mr. Marcus SamuelCan my hon. Friend say how the name Rice is spelt?