HC Deb 26 April 1933 vol 277 c104W
Sir C. RAWSON

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the case of Julien Foscaner, formerly a Rumanian subject, now permanently domiciled as a coffee planter at Arusha, Tanganyika, who served in His Majesty's Navy as a translating officer from 1916 until the end of the War, since when he has been trying to become a British subject but has been refused on the ground that residence in a mandated territory is not yet recognised as a qualification for naturalisation; and if he will see whether anything can be done to secure naturalisation for this man at an early date?

Mr. MALCOLM MACDONALD

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to the desire of Mr. Julien Foscaner to become naturalised as a British subject. The conditions upon which aliens may be granted certificates of naturalisation as British subjects are set out in Part II of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, but, as residence in Tanganyika cannot at present be regarded as residence within His Majesty's Dominions for the purposes of the Act, it cannot at the present time be counted as a qualification for naturalisation. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are, however, considering the introduction of legislation which, if passed, would make it possible for residents in Tanganyika to become eligible for naturalisation as British subjects, but it is not yet possible to say when such legislation is likely to be introduced, as consultation with the Dominion Governments is necessary.