§ 17. Sir H. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that about 30 Dutch internees in the Isle of Man have recently written to state that they have never been furnished with the reason for their detention; and whether he has any statement to make?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)I presume my hon. Friend refers to a batch of letters, almost identical in terms, which he recently sent to me. Inquiry is being made into each case, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course. In the meantime, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to his Question on 29th May.
§ 20. Mr. Radfordasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the rioting, after heavy drinking, by certain Italians interned at Douglas, Isle of Man, in celebration of the anniversary of Italy's entry into the war, during which one Italian said to be loyal to Britain was seriously injured; why discipline is so lax at the said camp that heavy drinking is permitted there; and whether internees who are well supplied with money are compelled to pay [or their keep?
§ Mr. MorrisonMy hon. Friend has been misled by inaccurate newspaper reports. There is no ground for the allegation that there has been rioting or heavy drinking among the internees, and the wide circulation which has been given to these allegations is much to be regretted. As I stated in my reply to Questions on 19th June, an internee was assaulted on 11th June by three other internees. These offenders have been convicted by the court at Douglas, and each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. As regards the suggestion that persons whom the Government have interned should be compelled to pay for their keep if they are able to do so, the impracticability of adopting this course has been explained on previous occasions. Apart from other considerations, such a proposal would be in direct conflict with the Prisoners of War Convention, and undertakings have been given by the British, German and Italian Governments that civilian internees will be treated in accordance with the spirit of its provisions.
§ 31. Miss Eleanor Rathboneasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the changed political situation, he will review the cases of those aliens whose release from internment ox from detention under Regulation 12A has been refused only on the ground that they were suspected of Communist activities or propaganda injurious to the war effort?
§ Mr. MorrisonIf among the aliens who are at present interned there are persons who, though they were previously unwilling to assist the Allied war effort, are now genuinely prepared to cooperate in the promotion of victory for the Allied cause, I shall be ready to review such cases whenever evidence of a change of attitude becomes available.
§ Miss RathboneWill my right hon. Friend say how any more evidence can become available while they are still in internment? Cannot the cases be reviewed on the statements that have already been put in on their behalf?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe hon. Lady will be aware that internees of this character, while in a greater or lesser degree being in opposition to the Nazi regime, were not necessarily friends of the Allied cause, and it is that which really must be the test for release from internment in these cases.
§ Mr. SilvermanIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a great and growing uneasiness about internees under, this Regulation, and does he not think that there should now be a special inquiry into these cases?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am not aware of any such uneasiness; on the contrary, I am aware of a growing public confidence in the administration of these Regulations.