§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked whether the millinery business conducted by Madame Helene, in 55, Conduit Street, belongs to her German husband who is interned; and, if so, why this business is not closed?
Mr. SAMUELThe hon. Member has been misinformed. I have made inquiry, and I find that the business in question belongs entirely to Madame Helene, a woman who, though married to a German now interned, is of French birth and sympathies and has two brothers fighting in the French Army.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 1577W whether he is aware that, at Reichenfeld's Great Hungarian Restaurant, in Foubert's Place, W.C., some twenty or thirty aliens of military age meet every day; whether the German and Magyar languages are solely employed; and why the business is not closed and the frequenters interned?
Mr. SAMUELI am informed that the facts are not as stated in the question, but that this is a very small and well-conducted restaurant largely frequented by French and Serbians, and that the only alien enemies who visit it are three Hungarians who have been exempted from internment. The proprietor is a Hungarian woman who manages the business herself, and by means of it supports herself and her five children, three of whom are British-born.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether the restaurant business of Paul Stüilick in Percy Street, who was interned last week, is still being carried on by his alien wife; and, if so, whether the licence has been transferred to the wife and, generally, why the business is not closed?
Mr. SAMUELI am informed that the wife of this man is a British-born woman, and that for the present she is carrying en the restaurant and employs two waiters, one of whom is a Czech with, a French wife, and the other an Austrian with a British-born wife and three British-born children. She has not yet, I understand, applied for a transfer of the licence, and I am considering what, if any, further action is desirable in the case.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether Max Zeller, an alien enemy, is still carrying on business in 45, Charlotte Street; and, if so, seeing that he openly professes pro-German feelings, will he say why he is not interned and his business wound up?
Mr. SAMUELThe hon. Member has been misinformed. This man, an Austrian, aged 64 and in feeble health, gave up the business in question in April, 1915. I shall be glad if the hon. Member will let me have the evidence that leads him to think that Zeller openly professes pro-German feelings.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked why J. Graf, an alien German and a man of anti-English sentiments openly professed, is still carrying on business in 16, Goodge Street; and why he is not interned and his business wound up?
1578W
Mr. SAMUELThe hon. Member appears to refer to one Nicholas Graf, who was exempted from internment on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, in view of the facts that he has resided here for thirty-five years, has four British-born children, and obtained his discharge from German nationality in 1884. The inquiries I have had made do not bear out the statement in the question that he is "a man of anti-English sentiments openly professed," and I will be glad if the hon. Member will let me see the evidence which he has to that effect.