The Aliens Restriction Bill was read a second time in
the House of Commons on Tuesday, but the debate showed that most Members thought the Bill too weak. Its main purpose is to empower the Government to regulate the alien question by Order in Council for the next two years. Mr. Shoat said that this was an elastic method, by which the Government could meet unforeseen developments. They had made twenty- eight Orders relating to aliens during the war. The critics rejoined, in effect, that the method was too elastic, and that the Government would let the Germans come back if no permanent barriers were set up against them. The House seemed pro- foundly distrustful of the Home Office., and very reluctant to give the Department an absolute discretion in this matter. In the end Mr. Shortt had to agree that the Home Office should only exercise these special powers for a year. We object in principle to entrusting legislative functions to any Depart- ment. Yet it may be doubted whether, in this atmosphere of suspicion, a satisfactory law relating to aliens could be framed at present.
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