Evening journal., 1918-07-12
britain To GUST
ENEMY ALIENS
Sinking Of Hospital Ships
Spurs the Government to
Protective Action
INTERNE THE MEN;
REPATRIATE WOMEN

LONDON, July i2,-Parliament de-
bated yesterday the question OF the
treatment af enemy aliens and persons
OF. enemy alien o.igin, which has been
the subject Of much discussion recent
ly in the press and on which a COM
mite OF the House OF Commons on
July s issued a report.
The committee recommended the i'm
mediate internment OF every male
enemy allen over t8 years except those
who for medical or other reasons
should be exempted, and the repatriat-
ing Of all female enemy aliens except
those whose husbands had been grant
ed exemption from internment.
The committee also recommended the
immediate discharge OF all such per-
sons employed in any government de-
partment and that all enemy business
es should be wound up within three
months.
Sir George Cave, Secretary for Home
Affairs, who opened the debate, re-
ferring TO the public anxiety on the
question, said he believed this anxiety
was due 10 insufficient knowledge Of
the steps taken to protect the country
from anything like enemy allen dan
ger.
The Home Secretary said It was true
that there was anxiety even among
thoughtful and reasonable men as to
what might be the effect OF so large a
number Of enemy aliens In England
and that it was the duty Of the govern
ment TO take all reasonable steps for
the safety Of the country.
Such outrages as the sinking OF hos
pital ships, Sir George said, must af-
feet the point Of view from which the
question was approached. II the enemy
permitted acts OF that kind enemy sub
jects must suffer in the estimate which
all decent people formed Of them.
The government proposed. he said, to
ask committees In each county to un-
dertake the revision OF all exemptions
from internments in the case OF men
and exemptions from repatriation In
the case OF women.
The government proposes bringing
under review the certificates OF natur-
slization granted during the war, ne
added. II was also proposed that no
person not a natural born British SUBJ
ject should be allowed to change his
name without license from the Home
ONCE, the Home Secretary said. Tits
provision would be retroactive.
The Home Secretary likewise an
nounced that the government Intended
to apply to the courts for an order to
wind up the business OF enemy owned
banks. Legislation would be intro
duced by the government, he added,
which would make II Impossible for a
period OF years after the war to open
any enemy bank in this country.
The demand had been made, said Sir
George, that persons OF enemy origin In
Offices shor:d be summar-
lily dismissed What enemy origin
meant we did not know.
To discharge such persons would
cause In many cases q very grave In
justice. It was proposed, however, to
make rules that no person should dur
ing the war he employed in govern
ofices unless he was a natural born
British subject, or where there were
definite national reasons for making |
an exception. There already had been
many deportations OF undesirable |
aliens and steps were being taken TO
free the country entirely Of such per-
sons
No further applications for patents
would be received from enemy sub
jects, and the trading with the enemy /
act would be amended to enable enemy |
to be transferred TO a pub
lie trustee. It also was proposed that
the Board Of Trade should have power
TO wind up and strike OF the register
any companies.
Regarding enemy banks, said the sec
retary, they were at present so far as
was concerned practically |
dead, but the government proposed to
apply at once TO the courts for a wind
ing up order, so that, they could be
put into liquidation, their assets col
lected and distributed and they them
selves put an end to in the shortest
possible time. This step would be Of
no value II they could be reopened |
after the war.
German banks in the past, the Home |
went on, had been used as
means Of getting a hold on British |
trade and connections and injuring