§ Lieutenant-Colonel MOORE-BRABAZONasked the Home Secretary (1) if he is aware that on most week evenings and on every Sunday a number of Russian and other aliens congregate in Hyde Park, near the Marble Arch, where they interrupt orderly religious and other meetings by frequently uttering disloyal and profane remarks; and if he will instruct the police to take additional steps to secure an abatement of this nuisance;
(2) if he is aware that an alien named Swazy was recently convicted at Marlborough Street Police Court for an offence committed at a public meeting in Hyde Park, when the police stated he was a consort of revolutionary aliens; if he is aware that this man is one of the principal speakers at the meetings of the Secular Society in Hyde Park, when he utters profane, disloyal, and seditious language; and if he will give instructions for additional police action in the matter in putting an end to the objectionable language, not only of Swazy, but other speakers at these atheist meetings which are largely attended by aliens?
§ Mr. SHORTTMy attention has already been called to the conviction of the alien mentioned. The Commissioner of Police informs me that the police are on the alert with regard to the meetings in question, and any speaker who commits a breach of the law is arrested.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel MOORE-BRABAZONasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that there are still a number of Russian and other aliens resident in the 437W Metropolis who have not taken out their letters of identification pursuant to orders which required them to do so prior to October last; and if he will consider the advisability of increasing the penalties for any breach of this regulation, and instructing the police to give greater attention to the immediate prosecution of defaulters?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am informed that it is probable that a considerable number of aliens in the Metropolitan police district have not yet provided themselves with identity books, the great majority of the cases being those of Russians registered in the East End of London who disappeared from their residences when called upon for military service. They are gradually being found, and when found are charged with offences under the Aliens Restriction Order. The penalties for such offences are fines not exceeding £100 or imprisonment for not more than six months, and I do not think that any increase in these penalties is called for. The police are exercising all due diligence in this matter and require no special instructions with regard to it. In the East End of London alone there have been during the last two months 163 prosecutions for failure to possess identity books.