THE ALIEN DANGER.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 12, 13 July 1918, Page 8

THE ALIEN DANGER.

GOVERNMENT'S NEW POLICY

WIDE PROTECTIVE MEASURES.

<AUSTRAUAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received July 13, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, 12th July. ' Speaking in the House of Commons during the debate on. the treatment of aliens, Sir George Cave.'Secretary of ■State for Home Affairs, asked the House to give serious and cool attention to the subject. He admitted that there was much public anxiety, on the question, but it was largely due to inadequate knowledge. Steps had already been taken to protect the country against the alien danger. He .'disagreed with the indiscriminate internment of enemy aliens, but said that, central committees would be asked to carefully review and drastically revise the existing exemptions, and to give reasons for their decisions. Every enemy alien would thus be interned except where strong reason existed for his exemption. It was also proposed to review all naturalisation certificates granted since the war began. No person not a natural-bom British subject will be allowed to change his name except under license. The prohibition will operate retrospectively. The Minister announced that during the war no person should he employed in a. Government office unless he was the child of natural born British subjects, except for definite national reasons. Many undesirable aliens had already been deported, and the Government intended to rid the country of undesirables.

Regarding enemy banks, Sir George Cave said the Government proposed to apply to the Court immediately for a winding-up order, and also to introduce legislation to prohibit/ enemy banks in. Britain for a period of years after the war.. . .

Sir George Cave pointed out that except in tho early weeks of the war, spies had not been found among enemy subjects, but were of other nationalities. Aliens other than enemies were already registered, and their movements were restricted, but it was proposed to make the system of identity books general. -Regarding the recommendations of the Committee of the House of Commons, Sir George Cave said he agreed that many exemptions were given early in the war at a time of great pressure, and ifc was therefore not unreasonable to suggest that the list might be carefully revised. Where exemptions were granted after a new investigation, the records would be available to the public. Regarding the review of the naturalisation certificates, a Bill had already been introduced which would enable them to deal with the question; but the certificates would be reviewed; including those granted during the war. Sir George Cave concluded that since the war began no patents had been granted to enemy subjects. Over 500 enemy > businesses . had been wound-up, and many had been transferred to British ownership. Mr. Hugh Williams urged that if a tribunal decided that an alien should not be exempted, a Government office should not be allowed to revise the decision.

Mr. Lloyd George said the debate showed that the House generally accepted Sir George_ Cave's propositions. They would be carried out vigorously and rigorously, arid without unfairness. He promised that the tribunal would be strong and impartial, and that no personal considerations would be allowed to interfere with i the public interest. There was never a' British set-back, he said, after which he did not get numerous letters from Germans in Britain, crowing over the set-back. This sort of thing must be stopped. The reasons for exempting aliens employed in Government departments would not be published. They were rendering conspicuous services to the country, and had been extremely helpful. In case of war, the country must be given the benefit of the doubt; even to the point of individual hardship. :We must not enter into competition with tho Germans in inhumanity and injustice; that would degrade our flag; but we must not commit the folly of overtrustfulness to the extent of endangering the country we loved so welL