§ 3. Mr. Beechmanasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the increasing number of refugees entering this country, he will appeal to the United States of America to take as many refugees as possible; and, in particular, whether he will request the American authorities to speed up their reception of refugees who are in this country on their way to the United States of America, and whose entry into the United States of America has already been sanctioned by that country?
§ Mr. ButlerThis matter is receiving by Noble Friend's attention.
§ 31. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will indicate the percentage of refugees from Nazi oppression who are known to have committed hostile acts in this country; how this compares with similar acts committed by nationals of friendly States who were resident in this country; and whether friendly German and Austrian refugees recently interned are kept separate from known Nazi Government supporters?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)I regret that no statistics are available to enable a comparison to be drawn such as the hon. Member suggests. The responsibility for the custody of German and Austrian male internees rests with the War Office and a Question on this subject is being addressed tomorrow to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. As regards women internees, arrangements have been made for their accommodation in the Isle of Man.
§ Mr. SorensenMay we take it that far fewer hostile acts have been committed by these refugees from Nazi oppression than have been committed by the I.R.A.?
§ Mr. PeakeWe have not any accurate definition of what is a hostile act, but speaking from memory, I cannot recall any case since the beginning of the war of anything which could be described as a hostile act having been proved in a court of law to be attributable to either of the classes of aliens mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's Question.
§ Mr. SorensenWill the hon. Gentleman make that as publicly known as possible to counteract extravagant anti-refugee agitation?
§ Mr. WoodburnMay I take it that the Government wish to cause no undue hardship by this Regulation, and in cases of such hardship, will they permit other members of the family, such as elderly or aged mothers, to go with their relatives to the Isle of Man, if they wish to do so?
§ Colonel WedgwoodWill the Minister take an early opportunity of going round the camps himself to inquire into conditions and see how far they can be ameliorated?
§ Mr. G. StraussIn cases where married couples are interned, are they interned together, or sent to separate internment camps?
§ Mr. PeakeAt the moment they are sent to separate internment camps, but, as I have indicated, the question of mixed internment camps is under consideration.
§ Mr. LoganIn regard to a Question that was asked yesterday by the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton), would it not be advisable to adopt German families?