SIFTING THE ALIEN QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 281, 22 August 1940, Page 8

SIFTING THE ALIEN QUESTION

General satisfaction will be felt with the announcement by the Attorney-General, Mr. Mason,,that the recently-appointed Aliens Tribunal has begun its duties. In recent months public disquiet concerning the alien question has tended to increase, partly because of the number of stranger-aliens who have appeared in our midst and partly because of the complete freedom of action and the affluence apparently possessed by a number of these new arrivals. The accepted notion of the European refugee as a poverty-stricken fugitive has been indicated in a number of cases as a mistaken one. That discovery not unnaturally has given rise to doubts as to the boiiafides of certain individuals. The knowledge that the Aliens Tribunal is systematically at work sifting the information in the possession of the Customs authorities and the Police should help to allay disquiet. Furthermore, the inference to be taken from Mr. Mason’s omission of the world Enemy from the title of the Tribunal is welcome. To limit the field of investigation to persons known to be enemy aliens would have been to leave many possibly doubtful cases outside the net. Few citizens will disagree with the decision to hold the sittings of the tribunal in private, provided that the community is kept iegularly informed of the progress and scope of the investigations and their broad results. There is every good reason to shield those who may be examined, or who may be called upon to give evidence, from purely inquisitive publicity. On the other hand, there could be no good reason for withholding from the public at least the statistical record of cases dealt with. A total eclipse of information would renew disquiet and encourage rumour. Apart from the business of the Tribunal there is a strong case to be made in the public interest for a frank disclosure, by the Government of the position concerning alien immigration since the outbreak of war. Has this dribble continued? If so to what extent, and for what reason? What, if any, is the Government’s policy in the matter, and what are the conditions laid down to govern the admission of strangers in wartime? These are points which have not been made clear since we entered the war. They should be made dear, once and for all.