HC Deb 01 March 1916 vol 80 cc1067-8W
Sir A. MARKHAM

asked the Home Secretary why a permit was issued to Herr Friedman, an alien enemy, a young man of twenty-eight, of the Forester Paper Company, Limited, Acton, to spend week-ends at Brighton, Bournemouth, and now every week-end at Margate; how long have these permits been issued to this alien enemy; and what are the reasons why he is not interned?

Mr. SAMUEL

I have made inquiry, and am informed that permits have from time to time been issued by the police to Friedman, who is an Austrian subject, to enable him to visit his British-born fiancée, who has been long dangerously ill, and who died this week. Friedman was exempted from internment on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee.

Sir A. MARKHAM

asked the President of the Board of Trade why a permit has been given to Herr Friedman, an alien enemy, manager of the Forester Paper Company, Limited, of Acton, to continue trading in this country; whether he is aware that the Forester Paper Company, Limited, is controlled by the Deutsche Bank; that this company is carrying on a large business taking work from British paper manufacturers, two-thirds of whose employés have gone to the War; whether he is aware that a number of firms doing business with this company are wholly unaware that this is an alien-owned firm; and will he say why steps have not already been taken under the provisions of the Enemy Trading Act to put a stop to this company trading?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

No permit is required to enable the Forester Paper Company, Limited, to continue trading in this country. One thousand of the company's shares were registered in the name of the London Agency of the Deutsche Bank, but the company is not controlled by that bank. Out of the issued capital of 13,500 shares, 7,799 shares are held by British subjects. The business has been inspected, and I am advised that it is not carried on wholly or mainly for the benefit or under the control of enemy subjects, so that the case is not one to which the provisions of Section 1 of the Trading With the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916, apply.