Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary for Home Affairs, promised in the House of Commons today to investigate the alleged action of a British affiliate of a German firm in dismissing its Jewish employes. “I am sure,” Sir Samuel declared, “that any reputable British firm highly disapproves of actions of this kind and the more facts known the better from my point of view.”
Charges against the firm, Schenkers, Ltd., British branch of a large German express company, were made in Commons by Laborite R. T. Fletcher, who asserted the action was “contrary to the principles of toleration in this country.” Sir Samuel turned down a proposal to establish a British Ellis Island for refugees pending action on appeals for admission, asserting nothing would be gained except to encourage numbers of people to come to England on the chance of securing admission who ultimately would have to be sent back.
Sir Samuel was asked by Geoffrey Mander, Liberal, whether he would deport the leaders of the British section of the German Labor Front, described by Mander as an organization “contrary to the interests of this country.” Mander said that the British section was “compelling every German subject in this country to belong to it.”
“I am aware,” Sir Samuel said, “that there is a branch of this organization in this country. There can be of course no question that German nationals have under our laws complete freedom of choice in this matter, and the use of intimidation with a view to compel them to join against their will would be a punishable offence. If in any case there were evidence that intimidation had been used appropriate action would be taken.”
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