ADMISSION OF ALIENS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 April 1938, Page 7

ADMISSION OF ALIENS

BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S POLICY: DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 14. The question of aliens in the United Kingdom was debated in the House of Commons on the motion for the adjournment. Replying, Mr Geoffrey Lloyd said the House and the country had approved of the action taken by the Home Secretary regarding refugees from Austria. The question of girls and women coming to Britain and taking up domestic service was amply covered by the existing regulations, which did not permit them to do so without permission. Every case of an alien applying for permission to land was carefully examined at the port of arrival, and that applied also to refugees, the fact that they were refugees not involving any relaxation of the regulations against aliens who personally were undesirable. If any alien was found to be engaged in activities in any way inconsistent with the purpose for which he was admitted steps would be taken if necessary to get rid of him or exclude him when he wished to visit this country. On the general question of whether there was any surveillances on Germans in this country by foreign agents, he said he could only repeat what the Home Secretary had assured the House —that the position was being very closely watched, and if there were any evidence of any unlawful acts being carried out the action would certainly be taken. In regard to the position of Austrian subjects, the question of nationality was very complicated. If they refused to register at the German Consulate. as Germans, they could under German law be deprived of German nationality, and apparently they be 1 came stateless. If a person had been admitted to this country for a temporary period and refused to register, his case would be considered on its merits and the fact that he had nc-r registered would not in itself be considered to be ground for refusing an application to remain here.