§ 39. Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the letter concerning Mrs. Ansbacher; and whether he will see that these wives of friendly aliens, whose husbands were sent to Australia with the promise that their wives would be sent after them, receive maintenance money and that when their husbands were on the "Dunera" that part of the compensation is paid to them?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonSeveral letters regarding Mrs. Ansbacher's case have been considered and answers have been sent, including the information that, if she is in need of help in order to maintain herself, she should apply to the nearest office of the Assistance Board under the scheme for the Prevention and Relief of War-Time Distress. As regards compensation, mentioned in the last part of the Question, this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. I may refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made by the Financial Secretary to the War Office in the Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on 25th February.
Miss RathboneCan my right hon. Friend assure us that the compensation promised in the speech to which he has alluded has actually been paid?
§ Mr. MorrisonI cannot say. That is a matter for my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for War.
§ Mr. WedgwoodCan my right hon. Friend inform us whether these women who have lost their all will be able to get out to Australia?
§ Mr. MorrisonI can assure my right hon. Friend that we are doing our best in that matter, and I am glad to say that there are indications of active sympathy by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia; but I ought to make it clear that there was no promise that the wives would be sent. To say that there was would be an exaggeration. We said that we would do our best and I can assure my right hon. Friend that we are doing so, because I feel that we certainly have a moral obligation to do our very best in the matter.
§ Mr. WedgwoodWill my right hon. Friend convey to the Government of Australia how strongly we feel on that matter?
§ Mr. MorrisonI have seen the High Commissioner, who has been exceedingly helpful, and I have no reason to think that the Australian Government will not do their best in the matter, but there were some real difficulties at their end.
§ 43. Mr. Manderasked the Home Secretary how many internees have now been returned to this country from Canada following on Mr. Paterson's visit; how many have been released; and the dates on which the ships arrived here?
§ Mr. Morrison579 internees have been brought back from Canada since Mr. Paterson's arrival in that country. Of these, 182 have volunteered for enlistment in the Pioneer Corps and have been or will be released on being accepted for enlistment. Of the remaining 397, the release of 170 has been authorised. In the remaining cases I am awaiting replies from tribunals, other Government Departments, prospective employers or the internees themselves. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the exact dates on which the various ships arrived.
§ Mr. ManderIn view of the fact that some of these internees have now been back and in the Isle of Man for a period of more than three months, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of asking the tribunals to be a little more rapid in the matter?
§ Mr. MorrisonMy hon. Friend is on a false trail. He is trying to get preferential treatment for persons returned from Canada.
§ Mr. ManderNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MorrisonThese people have no right to be put in a preferential position in comparison with anyone else. They were returned from Canada as a result of the best information available, and because there was prima facie evidence that they were appropriate for consideration for release; but it does not go beyond that. Therefore, they must take their turn with all others. I think it will be agreed by the House generally that the speed in dealing with these cases has very much improved in recent times.
§ Captain W. T. ShawCan my right hon. Friend say, before he authorises the return of these people, that he will take into consideration the food position of this country?
§ 53. Mr. Sorensenasked the Home Secretary whether he has sent, or will send, to the Colonial Governments and to the Indian Government, copies of the White Paper dealing with categories under which internees may apply for release; and whether he has taken, or will take, any action to promote similar treatment in the Colonies and India to that already existing in this country?
§ Mr. MorrisonI have no responsibility for the policy which is adopted towards aliens in the Colonies or in India, and it would not be proper for me to intervene in this matter. I understand that my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for India and the Colonies have already sent copies of the White Paper to India and the Colonies.