The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-15
Enemy Aliens in England.

The plan Of the British Government
to intern enemy aliens Of military age
and to deport others. women and chill
dren to share the internment or he
deported. may work hardship in many
cases. but II Is justlfable as war
measurable presidents are numer.
Gus. In the United States the re-
straint or expulsion Of enemy aliens
has been provided for by Federal
legislation. BY the act OF July @.
179S, whenever war is declared be-
tween the United States and any other
nation. all subjects Of the foreign Gov.
eminent who are fourteen years and
upward may he removed as enemy
aliens. The act " July g. 1912. al
lows an enemy alien time to dispose
Of his property or arrange for the
shipment Of his movables out OF the
country.
Turkey, upon the outbreak Of the
war with Greece in 1897. required all
subjects Of Greece to depart from the
empire in fifteen days. In 1870 the
French Government ordered all Ger
mans out Of France. and the South
African Republic In the war Of 1892
1902 made almost clean sweep OF
British subjects. The right of a SOW
ereign State TO deport enemy aliens, X
they refuse to leave the country, Is
unassailable. OrrENHEIM says:
"A belligerent may consider 1t con-
venient to expel all enemy subjects re-
siding or temporarily staying within q is
territory. And. although such a meas
ure may be very hard and cruel. the
opinion is general that such expulsion
is tustifiable"
The right is based upon the broad
principle Of protecting the country
from those who are dangerous to its
security. and even In time Of peace
expulsion Of individuals may be- war.
ranted. What is new in the English
war measure is internment. but after
the disgraceful rioting IN London and
other cities there seemed to he moth
ing for the Government to do but TO
assemble Germans and Austrians OF
military age and still at liberty IN
camps where they could be protected
and properly cared for. In many in
stances this precaution and enforced
hospitality will no doubt be welcome.
"A naturalized alien from an enemy
country" stands, OF course, upon the
same plane as the native born. and
his movements cannot he restrained
unless he is under suspicion and
case of aiding the enemy can he made
out against him.
The constitution Of special court
to consider appeals from the order of
the authorities Is assurance that they
will not be permitted to enforce II
In an arbitrary manner. Aliens OF
German and Austrian citizenship who
have proved their good will toward
the land Of their domic!le. and others
married to British women and per.
manently settled in the country may
be allowed their freedom: and there
will II course be special cases Of i'm
munity from internment or deporta-
tion. As Mr.. AsQuITH suggested.
there must he elasticity in the new
arrangement. Political influence will
doubtless save "enemy aliens" Of
wealth and distinction from restraint
Of their liberty-at the worst they
may he allowed to travel. The Gov
eminent. Of course. will have to as
sist many Of those subject to deporta-
tion. Altogether. treatment OF enemy
aliens will cost a pretty penny. and
II ought to have sedative effect
upon minds deranged by the spy
hysteria.