§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTasked the Prime Minister (1) whether His Majesty's Government are of opinion that every British subject, wherever he may be, and whether in British, allied, neutral, or hostile territory, is, by reason of his British allegiance, under a legal duty to abstain from all commercial intercourse with the enemy; if so, whether he will consider the desirability of stating such duty in express terms by proclamation; and (2) whether His Majesty's Government will provide by proclamation, and so far as necessary by legislation, firstly, that any act or transaction which, if done directly, would at common law or otherwise constitute the offence of trading with the enemy shall also be an offence if done indirectly through an agent, branch, or other intermediary, and, secondly, that trading with a non-enemy person shall be an offence if done with the intention of enabling such non-enemy person to trade, with an enemy or with the knowledge that such enemy-trading will result; and whether His Majesty's Government will consider the desirability of putting the burden of proof upon the defendant of disproving such intention or knowledge in cases where enemy trading has in fact resulted?
1317W
§ Sir J. SIMONThe Prime Minister has asked me to answer these questions, and I will deal with them together. The hon. and learned Gentleman's suggestions shall be carefully considered, but it does not appear to the Government at present that changes in the existing law and proclamations are required on these points.