§ Mr. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister whether he will inform the House what are the terms of the working arrangement between the War Office and the Home Office as to the procedure for releasing alien enemies who have been interned and the date when such arrangement was made; and whether, if such arrangement was in writing, he will lay the same upon the Table of the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe following letters passed between Lieut.-General Sir260W Herbert Belfield, Director of Prisoners of War, and Sir Edward Troup:—
"20th November, 1914.
Dear Sir Edward,—I have found considerable difficulty in carrying out the duties entrusted to me by the Secretary of State for War in regard to alien prisoners of war, owing to the fact that the great majority have been interned by the police, and it is only through the police that, information can be obtained when questions of release arise.
This information I can obtain only through the Home Office, and reference between our two offices means delay, whereas our object is to expedite matters as much as possible.
I am aware that an organisation has existed at the Home Office for some time to deal with questions of release of alien prisoners, and Lord Kitchener has consented to my approaching you with a view to asking for the help of that organisation in carrying out my duties.
There is, of course, no suggestion that we should shelve responsibility, and that being so, it is suggested—if you concur in the proposal—that the Home Office organisation shall, as regards alien prisoners, work under War Office authority and supervision as represented by myself.
We have always had so much help from the Home Office that I know I can look to you to help if you can. If you concur in principle, details can, no doubt, be easily arranged.—Sincerely yours,
(Signed) H. E. BELFIELD."
"20th November, 1914.
Dear General Belfield,—I received this morning your letter about the arrangement for the release of alien prisoners, and have shown it to the Home Secretary We are anxious to adopt whatever arrangement will give you most help, and, as Lord Kitchener proposes it, Mr. McKenna readily agrees to place at the disposal of the War Office the branch of the Home Office recently organised under Mr. Waller for the purpose of inquiries as to alien prisoners. The responsibility for all releases will remain with you. Mr. Waller will make inquiries as at present, and will deal with all questions of release in accordance with such general or specific directions as you may give. All details as to the way the work is to be carried on may be arranged with him.—Yours sincerely,
(Signed) EDWARD TROUP."
§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state how many alien enemies have been interned in Ireland since the outbreak of the War, and how many are still interned?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe number of aliens at present interned in Ireland is 304. The information to answer the first part of the question is not available.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Prince Charles Edward, reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who is now in command of troops in the German army fighting against the Sovereign and people of the British Empire, is a natural-born British subject, and is Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow in the Peerage of the United Kingdom with an hereditary seat in the House of Lords; whether the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and 261W Gotha is still a prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, K.G., G.C.V.O., and Commander-in-Chief of the Seaforth Highlanders; has he ceased to hold any, and, if so, which, of these honours and dignities, and what were the dates and the circumstances of their relinquishment; and whether, having regard to the fact that the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha can, in accordance with precedent, be deprived of the peerages now held by him by Act of Parliament, and that the other British honours, dignities, and offices are held at the pleasure of the Crown and revocable at that pleasure without reason assigned, steps will be taken for the deprivation of this person guilty of high treason of peerages and other honours, their retention by him being calculated to irritate and humiliate those subjects of the Empire who are sacrificing life and treasure for the cause against which the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is fighting in conjunction with the foes of the Crown?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. and learned Member to the replies which I gave to him and to the hon. Member for Chelsea on this subject on 18th November and 31st August respectively.
§ Mr. NIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has made himself acquainted with the terms of the judgment of the full Court of Appeal in the case of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Company v. Daimler Company, and the same v. T. Tilling, Limited ("Times," 20th January, 1915), and particularly the terms of the dissentient judgment of the Right Honourable Lord Justice Buckley; and whether, in consequence, he will forthwith, or at an early date, introduce legislation to prevent the abuse by aliens, and particularly of alien enemies, of the laws relating to joint stock companies?
§ Sir J. SIMONMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Nottingham on Thursday, the 4th February.
Colonel WHITEasked the Attorney-General whether he has made inquiries into the case of the so-called Globe Polish Company; whether this company has taken over the business of the Globe Metal Polish Company, of which 4,995 shares out of 5,000 were held by the Fritz Schulz Aktiengesellschaft, of Leipzig, and three more by other German subjects; if he is satisfied that the transfer to Messrs. 262W Raimes and Company, of Bow, is a bonâ-fide transaction; and, if not, what steps will be taken to prevent the profits of this business, widely advertised as an all-British concern, reaching the pockets of alien enemies?
Mr. RUNCIMANI have been asked by my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General to answer this question. An inspector has been appointed and inquiries have been made in the case of the Globe Polish Company, Limited, the shares in which are held as stated in the hon. Member's question. I understand that the management of the business is now being controlled by Raimes and Company, Limited, the shares of which company are held by British subjects. A supervisor of the Globe Polish Company, Limited, was appointed last December in order to ensure that the profits of the business should not be sent to enemies.