§ 35. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give consideration to entering into an arrangement with the United States of America, similar to that between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, whereby the citizens of each country have unrestricted rights of entry into the other country, and are not treated as aliens.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerNo, Sir. The reciprocal rights in this matter of citizens of the United Kingdom and of the Republic of Ireland are based on geographical and other considerations which do not apply in the case of the United States.
§ Mr. FletcherDoes not the Home Secretary think it would be a convenient contribution to the policy of further liberalisation regarding aliens of which he spoke on 20th November?
§ Mr. ButlerThe two countries are not exactly the same in any particular degree, and it is rather a difficult proposition to give the whole population of a very large country freedom of entry to our shores. Every country produces a certain number of people who are not welcome in any other country, and therefore I should find it difficult to answer the general proposition of the hon. Gentleman. If he would care to amplify it to me in any way, I should be glad to investigate his statement.