Evening star., 1918-07-12
BRITAIN TO CURB
ALIEN ACTIVITIES
Germans in England to Be
Largely lnterned and
Business Checked.
PUBLIC HAS BEEN ANXIOUS

LONDON. July 11.-Parliament to-
day debated the question of the treat
ment of alien enemies and persons Of
alien origin. which has been the sub
ject of much discussion recently in
the press and on which committee
of the house of commons on July 8
issued a report
The committee recommended the i'm
mediate internment of every male
enemy alien over eighteen years, ex-
cept those who, for medical or other
reasons, should be exempted. and the
repatriating of all female enemy
aliens except those whose husbands
had been granted exemption from in
ternment. The committee also recon-
mended the immediate discharge of
all such persons employed in any gov
ernment department. and that all
enemy businesses should be wound up
within three months.
Steps Taken to Protect Country.
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 to insufficient knowledge of
the steps taken to protect the coun-
try from anything like alien danger.
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 aliens in
England. and that it was the duty of
the government to take all reason
able steps for the safety of the coun-
try.
Such outrages as the sinking Of
hospital ships. Sir George said, must
affect the point of view from which
the question was approached. If the
enemy permitted acts of that kind.
enemy subjects must suffer in the
estimate which all decent people
formed of them.
The government proposed, he said.
to ask committees in each county to
undertake the revision of all exemp..
tions from interments in the case of
men and exemptions from repatria-
tion in the case of women.
Naturalization Certificates.
Regarding certificates of natural
ization. continued the home secretary.
they would also be brought under re-
view, and those granted during the
war were not likely to be continued
for doing so.
The demand had been made, said
Sir George. that persons Of enemy
origin in government offices should
be summarily dismissed. What enemy
origin meant he did not know.
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 business to be transferred to a
public trustee.
Regarding enemy banks. said the
secretary, they were at present, so faG
as business was concerned, practical
ly dead, but the government proposed
to apply at once to the courts for a
winding-up order.
Lloyd Georges Statement.
Premier Lloyd George said the de-
bate had shown that the house gener-
ally had accomplished the PROPOSE
tions laid down by the home secre-
tary. These propositions, he declared,
should be carried out vigorously, rig
orously and without unfairness.
Much would depend upon the COM
mittees set up to carry out the poll
cies. They should be strong and i'm
partial. Nothing but the public in
terest should be considered. and that
must be done ruthlessly by these COM
mittees.
1t was difficult, the premier con-
tinued, to preserve ones temper when
one heard of aliens growing about
German victories. There was never a
case of British setback when he did
rot get numerous letters written by
Germans in Britain, Growing over 1t.
These letters bore a British postmark
and obviously were written by Ger
mans. That sort Of thing must be
stopped.
In time of war;" he said, in con-
clusion. I'VE must give the benefit of
the doubt to our own country. The
risks are far too great for enemy
alienS NOT TO he searched ont ruth-
lessly, even to the point Of Individual
hardships. The only limit to be placed
upon it Is that we should not enter
into competition with the Germans.
That would be degrading our flag. But
at the same time, do not let us COM
NIT the folly of over-trustfulness to
the extent of endangering the country
we love so we'll"