Anderson Promises to Rectify ‘mistakes’ on Aliens; Advisory Body Set Up

In the face of growing criticism of the Government’s policy of wholesale internment of aliens from enemy countries, Home Secretary Sir John Anderson refused tonight in Commons to reverse the policy, but promised to rectify “mistakes” in its administration.

After the events in Belgium, Holland and France such a policy was inevitable, Anderson said. He admitted, however, that many mistakes had been made which must be rectified and promised to publish a statement on the categories of aliens to be exempted from internment and the procedure for securing release of internees.

He announced establishment of an advisory committee to be headed by a person of high judicial office and to include as members Sir Herbert Emerson, director of the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees, and Sir Neill Malcolm, former League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Anderson also announced the Government’s decision to transfer from the War Office to the Home Office the responsibility for the welfare of internees and selection of internees for transfer overseas.

He stated that consideration must be given to the question of enlarging the exemption categories to to include those able to render special services or to contribute significantly to the war effort. Such cases will be decided by the advisory committee, he said.

The committee’s terms of reference include: to keep under review the application of principles laid down regarding internments, to make recommendations and suggestions to the minister, to advise the Home Secretary on proposals for modifying the policy which will be referred to the committee, to examine and make recommendations on individual and group cases referred to it.

Declaring further examination was likely to disclose cases justifying release, Anderson admitted that mistakes in interpreting instructions had resulted in internment of many who should have been exempted on the ground of ill health and infirmity, asserting that the mistakes must be rectified as soon as possible.

War Secretary Anthony Eden told Commons that steps would be taken for release of internees for enlistment in the Pioneer Corps. Recruiting of refugees for this corps was resumed yesterday after a month’s suspension. More than 400 volunteered yesterday and an equal number today.

Anderson’s statement is not likely to satisfy parliamentarians and a large section of the press which have been vehemently denouncing the injustice of the present policy. The latest recruit, the Evening Standard, tonight charged that the policy “is worse than folly–it is sabotage against our war effort; it is a damnable crime against the good name of England.”

Sir Norman Angell, noted author and lecturer, said in a Daily Herald article that unless Britain accepted the aid of anti-Nazi refugees it would be “playing Hitler’s game.” “We are breaking the hearts of those who would be our allies, destroying forces we will direly need, and blunting a weapon we must use if victory is to be ours,”he added.

A Herald editorial said that internment of refugees had been carried to “outrageous lengths” and that public feeling had mounted “from bewilderment to indignation” over the policy. “The public demands of the Government,” the editorial added, “that all aliens interned without proper cause be swiftly released and that henceforth the treatment of these defenseless people be in accordance with the good faith, dignity and common sense of this nation.”

The Times published a letter signed by the Duke of Newcastle, Sir Wilfred Grepe and other prominent persons, appealing against internment of Jewish and other refugees with Nazi sympathizers. The letter urged also that husbands and wives be not separated and that the War Office institute special camps for elderly married couples as well as for younger people.