HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2020
[Taken from TNA FO F383/202]
This document appears to derive from internal discussions between the Home and Foreign Offices arising from claims from Internees that they were allowed no time to leave the UK at the time of the declaration of war between the UK and various enemy countries. Note that Germany had declared war on France & Russia some days prior to the UK's declaration of war on Germany provoked by the German invasion of Belgium, thus no German could used the usual short cross channel links via France or Belgium during this grace period. Though the memo states that no Austrians made any complaints that they were prevented from leaving during the grace period, there were many internees who stated they were taken off Neutral ships prior to the declaration of war, as well as many ships crews of Austrian vessels detained in British ports - this latter category, after much debate and agitation, were released somewhat prior to the end of the war.
14th November, 1916. [Author Mr Moylan]
Dear Mr. [C.J.B.] Hurst,
With reference to previous correspondence, and to the discussion which took
place in your room at the Foreign Office on Thursday, the 2nd instant, I enclose
two copies of a memorandum setting out the facts, so far as I have been able
to as certain them with regard to the extent to which enemy subjects have been
allowed opportunity of leaving this country on the outbreak of war. I am sorry
for the delay in sending it to you, but I had to make certain. other enquiries
in order to verity so far as possible the correctness of the information.
As regards the action of the military authorities in stopping the departure
before August 11th of Germans of military age, it may be said that the military
authorities regarded such Germans as persons immediately liable to military
service. They were spoken of by the military authorities as Reservists.
(1)An Order of the Secretary of State dated August 5th (copy attached) made
in pursuance of Article 10 of the Aliens Restriction Order in Council of the
same date fixed August 11th as the date on and after which an alien enemy should
not embark in the United Kingdom at an approved port unless provided with a
permit issued by a Secretary of state.
The effect of this Order was to allow to German subjects a period of grace extending
from mid-night August 4th to mid-night August 10th within which to leave the
United Kingdom. They could leave either (a) for Holland or Scandinavia en route
to Germany or (b) for other destinations
As regards (a), excluding the German Ambassador's party which left Harwich for
the Hook, 140 strong, on the 6th August, the only routes actually available
were, so far as can be ascertained, the Queenborough - Flushing and Folkestone
- Flushing. A boat from Queenborough left for Flushing on the 5th August with
348 alien passengers, particulars of whose nationality are not available, but
most of them would certainly be Germans. On the 6th August a boat left Queenborough
with 12 alien passengers, nationality unknown.
From Folkestone a boat left for Flushing on the 8th August with 491 aliens,
and a boat on the 9th with 311: of these the majority were certainly Germans.
On the 9th, however, the military authorities at Folkestone, acting presumably
on the instructions of the War Office, detained some 200 Germans of military
age attempting to embark (and so far as is known all those so detained were
interned).
Large numbers of Germans left the country immediately before the declaration
of war with this country e.g. the records show that on the 4th August 113 aliens
left Harwich for the Hook of Holland; 1,140 aliens left Folkestone for Flushing,
and 363 aliens left Queenborough for Flushing the majority of these would be
German.
The fact that war was declared between Germany and France and Germany and Russia
some days before the declaration of war between Germany and this country, gave
Germans of military age who desired to go back to Germany ample opportunity
of doing so.
On the morning of the 11th August, i .e. after the period of grace had elapsed
239 aliens left Folkestone for Flushing and of some 200 Germans of military
age attempting to embark were stopped by the military authorities.
It does not appear that any action was taken by the military authorities at
other ports, except that at Newcastle the 9th August one German who attempted
to embark for Bergen was stopped by the military authorities and interned.
As regards (b) no precise information as to numbers is available, but no restriction
was placed during the period of grace on Germans leaving for the United States,
Portugal, Spain or South America.
After the period of grace had elapsed Germans over 55 were allowed to embark
with permits freely during the month of August; and the first part of September;
subsequently they were held up a little pending the conclusion of the agreement
with Germany for the repatriation of civilians over 55, which was concluded
on the 22nd October 1914.
(2) As regards Austrians, no period of grace was allowed to Austrians, but,
inasmuch as the declaration of war with Austria on August 13th was an inevitable
consequence of war with Germany they may be said to have had from August 4th
to August 13th to leave the country. It does not appear that any complaints
have been made by Austrians that they were prevented from leaving the United
Kingdom.
(3) In the case of Turks the declaration of war was on the 5th November, 1914,
on the 7th November the Home Office was requested by the Foreign Office not
to allow any Turks to leave the United Kingdom because the Turkish Government
were refusing to allow British subjects to leave Turkey and this embargo was
maintained for some months, but the Home Office has no record of any Turkish
subjects applying for permission to leave the United Kingdom until very recently
when one application was made and granted and one (that of an interned Turk)
refused; such applications as were made were for permission to leave the United
Kingdom for other countries.
(4) In the case of Bulgarians, with whom war was declared on the 16th October,
1915, no period of grace was fixed, but it was decided that Bulgarians of military
age were not to be allowed to leave the country, and some half a dozen Bulgarians
who applied for permission to do so were refused. Any other Bulgarian could
have obtained permission to leave the country, but there is no record of any
of them having applied to do so.
(5) No restrictions have been at any time placed on the departure of women of enemy origin and children.
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