The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
Rr EX-ATTACHE.

sion of his last appearance In the House
Of Commons. the Right Hon. Hugh Ar
mold Forster obtained from the attorney
general an expression of the attitude OF
the British government on the subject OF
the treatment Of aliens in time Of war.
The foreigners whom the secretary OF
state for war IN the last LIBERAL Union
ist administration had in view in ad-
dressing his question to the principal
law officer of the Crown, were those men
Of the regular army OF a hostile bellig-
erent power found on British territory
after an act Of declaration of war; and
although he did not actually say so,
there was no doubt that the alien whom
he had in mind were the tens OF thou
ands OF Germans now making their resi-
dence in the United Kingdom. and who
nearly all are carried on the roster Of the
reserve of the Kaiser's army.
II is needless to relate here that there
has been during the last six months
very serious scare throughout the Brit
ish Isles. on the subject OF their invasion
by Germany This alarm has been indus
triously fomented by men high in office,
with the object OF removing popular op-
position TO the increased expenditure de-
manded for the navy, and likewise 10 in
duce men 10 join the new territorial
branches Of the army.
Certain newspapers aided and abetted
the public agitation. and the climax was
reached when Capt Du MaurieTs play
was put on the stage the other day,
demonstrating the fate OF An English
mans Home" family. and possessions
at the hands OF the foreign invader.
While the authorities have attained
their ends. since the ranks OF the terri
torial force have been filled, and the
opposition against the building OF new
rnen-of-War has waned. the fear OF
Teuton descent upon the British coasts
subsists in all its intensity. and hnds
its expression IN the most extravagant
forms.
The SPY mania is raging. and almost
every foreigner travelling either for bus
mess or for pleasure. IS looked upon
with profound suspicion. as engaged in
the investigation of the defenses, the
weaknesses. and the resources Of the
tight little island for the benefit Of the
government al Berlin.
Even Englishmen who are strangers 20
the people Of the locality in which they
may happen 70 be staying are liable to
denunciation as spies. while hardly a day
passes without letters being addressed 20
the newspapers. calling upon Parliament
20 take heed Of the fact that there are AT
the present moment, living and earning
their livelihood in the United Kingdom.
over 100000 German men. between the
ages n twenty and forty. who. forming
part OF the reserve of the German army,
as officers. noncommissioned officers. and
privates. would be called upon by the
Kaiser 70 join the colOrs on the outbreak
OF a war.
Indeed. some Of the communications 10
the press go so far as 70 insist that these
German residents in England are so clev-
erly organized that. already in posses
sion Of the necessary instruction. they
would within a few hours OF any rupture
between the two countries form them
selves into A foreign army corps with
foothold on British soil.
Just how all these merchants. clerks.
and artisans. teachers. artists, walters,
and labOrers are 10 engage TO do effective
work as an army corps. without the nee
essarv arms. military equipment, and
supplies. does not seem TO concern the
Scribes. whose letters. IN spite Of this
tri1ng drawback. all contribute 10 keep
alive the popular apprehension. and Incl
dentally the hostility against everything
Teuton
That so able and brilliant a statesman
as the late Hugh Arnold Forster. who,
before becoming secretary Of state for
war. represented the admiralty as parlia-
mentary secretary in the House OF Com
mons. should hae considered II necessary
r1,r rvcv-a~-~,r,,ar1f 70 81
us of all these 10000 or more unarmed
soldiers Of the reserve Of the German
army. who might be resident IN Great
Britain al the moment OF an outbreak OF
war with Germany, indicates that the
matter is one which at any rate requires
thoughtful consideration and discussion.
and In view Of the large population OF
alien birth in the United States. II is not
without possessing some interest for
Americans.
Sir William Robson, the attorney general
in his reply to Mr.. Forster, announced
that in the event Of war England would
follow the humane and chivalrous prac-
tice Of modern times. and would give
to any Of the subjects OF a hostile bellig-
gerent power who might be found en-
gagged in civilian pursuits I'm Great Britain
n reasonable time within which 10 leave
for their own country, even # they were
under obligations 10 enter a service un-
der the enemys flag. and TO return as
foes
Sir William Robson made It perfectly
clear that this was a matter OF modern
usage and courtesy, rather than of law
and right. He pointed out that at the
outbreak Of the FranCO-German war of
1870, France not only gave ample time
for all German subjects found on her ter
ritory to leave for home. but even made
special arrangements for their prOtec-
tion. and organized exceptional railroad
facilities for their bene1t, although ii
was perfectly well known that they were
going back TO the fatherland to fight
under the enemys flag.
On the other hand. he showed that
there were still in existence ancient un-
repealed statutes (Which. though not in
voked have, 1 believe, their places in the
legislation of most foreign countries ,
authorizing government TO detain aBd
intern foreign soldiers found on its ter
rltory on the outbreak Of war with the
nation TO which they belong The English
law states that this might be done in
the event Of military considerations rem
derinE it necessary; and occasions might
arise when the temptation TO make use
OF this law would be very great, such as.
for instance. if the chief of the staff.
and some Of the best generals Of the
German army and the ablest com
manders OF her navy. happened TO be on
British soil when war was declared.
Laws going back TO the days Of King
John. and of Magma Charta, provided
that no alien should be allowed to leave
for country at war with England, until
II had been ascertained how that nation