§ Major NEWMANasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the 415W French Government have now power to revoke licences of naturalisation granted to those of enemy alien birth; whether similar powers are possessed by the Home Office; and, if not, whether he will introduce legislation to that end?
Mr. SAMUELA law empowering the French Government to rescind in certain circumstances decrees of naturalisation granted to persons of enemy origin was passed in April, 1915, and an amending Bill has just passed the French Chamber of Deputies, the object of which is to remove difficulties which had arisen in giving effect to that law. The Bill providesinter alia for the reference of all cases proposed for denaturalisation to the Courts of Law. There are considerable difficulties, as the French experience has made clear, in the way of effective legislation on this subject, but the whole matter is now engaging the attention of the Government.