(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/129/84
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THIS DOCUMENT IS T H E PROPERTY OF H E R BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S G O V E R N M E N T
Printed
for the Cabinet.
November
,1956
Copy N o .
SECRET
CP. (56) 263
14th November,
1956
CABINET
COLONIAL
IMMIGRANTS
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
A s r e q u e s t e d by t h e C a b i n e t o n 11th J u l y ( C M . (56) 48th C o n c l u s i o n s ,
M i n u t e 10) t h e C o m m i t t e e of M i n i s t e r s u n d e r m y C h a i r m a n s h i p h a v e e x a m i n e d
(i) t h e justification for e x c l u d i n g citizens of the Irish R e p u b l i c f r o m a n y c o n t r o l
w h i c h m i g h t e v e n t u a l l y b e i m p o s e d o n i m m i g r a t i o n into t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m f r o m
C o m m o n w e a l t h c o u n t r i e s ; a n d (ii) t h e justification for c o n t i n u i n g in a n y e v e n t t o
e x t e n d t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m franchise t o Irish R e p u b l i c a n citizens w h o a r e r e s i d e n t
h e r e . T h e C o m m i t t e e h a v e also t a k e n the o p p o r t u n i t y to r e v i e w (ui) the c o n t i n u i n g
t r e n d of c o l o u r e d i m m i g r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e c u r r e n t year.
;
:
Conclusions
2. O u r c o n c l u s i o n s a r e as f o l l o w s : —
y. -w,ii
(i) Immigration
Control.—We
are satisfied t h a t there a r e s o u n d a n d
c o n v i n c i n g p r a c t i c a l r e a s o n s for c o n t i n u i n g to...exclude citizens of t h e
Irish R e p u b l i c f r o m i m m i g r a t i o n c o n t r o l , even if it is eventually d e c i d e d
t o r e g u l a t e t h e e n t r y of C o m m o n w e a l t h citizens. ( P a r a g r a p h s 3-7.)
(ii) Franchise.—It
seems a n o m a l o u s t h a t t h e franchise s h o u l d b e e x t e n d e d
t o Irish R e p u b l i c a n citizens r e s i d e n t h e r e , a n d it w o u l d b e difficult t o
justify giving t h e m t h e v o t e if t h e y did n o t h a v e it a l r e a d y . B u t t o t a k e
t h e franchise a w a y f r o m t h e m n o w w o u l d involve a d e p a r t u r e from t h e
views expressed b y m e m b e r s of t h e G o v e r n m e n t w h e n in o p p o s i t i o n ;
it c o u l d n o t be d o n e w i t h o u t fresh a n d c o n t r o v e r s i a l legislation, a n d
t h e r e w o u l d b e t r o u b l e s o m e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e difficulties to b e s u r m o u n t e d .
W e f o r m e d t h e view t h a t , unless s o m e entirely n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s h o u l d
force t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of the m a t t e r , it w o u l d scarcely b e p r a c t i c a b l e
in t h e a b s e n c e of a n y n e w factor to seek t o r e v e r s e a decision w h i c h
h a d a l r e a d y b e e n t a k e n a n d w h i c h h a s been in effect for several y e a r s .
( P a r a g r a p h s 8-13.)
(iii) O u r e x a m i n a t i o n of t h e t r e n d of c o l o u r e d i m m i g r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e c u r r e n t
y e a r , a n d of t h e i n c i d e n c e of u n e m p l o y m e n t a m o n g c o l o u r e d p e o p l e ,
h a s disclosed n o t h i n g w h i c h w o u l d suggest t h a t the p r o b l e m h a s b e c o m e
m a r k e d l y m o r e u r g e n t t h a n it w a s w h e n last reviewed in J u l y .
( P a r a g r a p h s 14-16.)
Immigration Control
3. C o n t r o l over t h e m o v e m e n t of p e o p l e b e t w e e n w h a t is n o w t h e I r i s h
R e p u b l i c a n d t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m , or G r e a t Britain, h a s n e v e r b e e n e n f o r c e d ,
e x c e p t for security r e a s o n s d u r i n g t h e w a r y e a r s w h e n it w a s i m p o s e d u p o n
m o v e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e w h o l e of I r e l a n d a n d G r e a t Britain. T h e policy of
c o n t i n u i n g t o e x t e n d to citizens of t h e Irish R e p u b l i c the s a m e privileges a n d s t a t u s
in this c o u n t r y as they h a d p r e v i o u s l y enjoyed, despite t h e Irish R e p u b l i c ceasing
to b e p a r t of H e r Majesty's d o m i n i o n s , w a s t h e result of very careful c o n s i d e r a t i o n
in 1949, a result a c c e p t e d at t h a t t i m e by m e m b e r s of t h e G o v e r n m e n t w h e n in
r
2
O p p o s i t i o n . A selection of s t a t e m e n t s m a d e t h e n is set o u t i n A n n e x " A . " A m o n g
t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s l e a d i n g t o t h e so-called " n o n foreign " policy w e r e a desire n o t
t o p r e j u d i c e either t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e m a n y British subjects r e s i d e n t in the
R e p u b l i c w h o w e r e p r o u d of their associations a n d wished t o r e t a i n British
n a t i o n a l i t y , o r equally t h a t of S o u t h e r n I r i s h m e n in C r o w n s e r v i c e ; t h e d e s i r e o n
b o t h sides t o c o n t i n u e preferential tariff a r r a n g e m e n t s ; t h e r e l u c t a n c e of o t h e r
C o m m o n w e a l t h c o u n t r i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e w i t h large Irish p o p u l a t i o n s , such as
A u s t r a l i a , to see the Irish R e p u b l i c b e c o m e a foreign c o u n t r y a n d t r e a t e d as such.
T h i s policy e m b o d i e d in t h e I r e l a n d A c t , 1949, m a d e it p o s s i b l e t o c o n t i n u e t o
t r e a t the British Isles for p u r p o s e s of i m m i g r a t i o n c o n t r o l as a g e o g r a p h i c a l u n i t
c o m p r i s i n g G r e a t Britain, I r e l a n d , Isle of M a n a n d the C h a n n e l I s l a n d s , citizens
of t h e Irish R e p u b l i c being as free as British subjects t o e n t e r t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m .
4. T h e r e a r e t h e following p r a c t i c a l a r g u m e n t s for c o n t i n u i n g this s t a t e of
affairs: —
(a) P a s s e n g e r traffic b e t w e e n I r e l a n d a n d G r e a t B r i t a i n is v e r y h e a v y —
e s t i m a t e d at 1 million passengers a n n u a l l y in e a c h direction.
(b) C o n t r o l over s u c h a l a r g e v o l u m e of traffic w o u l d lead t o delay a t t h e
p o r t s a n d c o n s e q u e n t a n n o y a n c e t o o u r o w n travellers, b o t h business
a n d p r i v a t e . E v e n d u r i n g t h e w a r c o n t r o l w a s felt b y m a n y t o b e
intolerable.
(c) A s it w o u l d be very difficult i n d e e d effectively t o supervise m o v e m e n t
across t h e l a n d b o r d e r b e t w e e n t h e Irish R e p u b l i c a n d N o r t h e r n
I r e l a n d , t h e c o n t r o l of sea traffic w o u l d h a v e t o e x t e n d i n p r a c t i c e t o
m o v e m e n t t o a n d f r o m I r e l a n d as a w h o l e . T h i s w o u l d b e offensive
t o t h e s e n t i m e n t s of t h e p a t r i o t i c a n d loyalist m a j o r i t y of t h e p o p u l a t i o n
of N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d , w h o w o u l d h a v e to b e r e q u i r e d t o c a r r y d o c u m e n t s
of identity.
(d) A n y f o r m of c o n t r o l m u s t b e e x p e c t e d t o h a v e s o m e h a m p e r i n g effect o n
t h e r e a d y flow of I r i s h l a b o u r ( b o t h from t h e R e p u b l i c a n d f r o m
N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d ) w h i c h h a s long b e e n a v a l u a b l e s o u r c e of m a n p o w e r
to industries a n d services in G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d is likely to r e m a i n so as
long as o u r d e m a n d s for m a n p o w e r r e m a i n so high as they a r e a t
present.
(e) A d d i t i o n a l staff, e s t i m a t e d at thirty I m m i g r a t i o n Officers at a s a l a r y cost
of £25,000 a year, w o u l d be r e q u i r e d at t h e p o r t s , a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y
m o r e staff in t h e H o m e Office.
(/) It w o u l d , of c o u r s e , b e necessary t o seek legislative p o w e r s (by revising
a p p r o p r i a t e l y t h e Bill at p r e s e n t in draft) if it w e r e d e c i d e d t o b r i n g
residents in t h e Irish R e p u b l i c w i t h i n t h e scope of a n y c o n t r o l w h i c h
m i g h t b e i m p o s e d over t h e e n t r y of C o m m o n w e a l t h citizens i n t o this
c o u n t r y ; a n d it is a m a t t e r of political j u d g m e n t w h e t h e r , given the
special c i r c u m s t a n c e s of t h e Irish R e p u b l i c , t h e scope of possible
c o n t r o v e r s y over t h e Bill w o u l d b e w i d e n e d o r r e d u c e d b y s u c h a
decision.
5. It is also t o be n o t e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m of
c o m p a r a t i v e l y large n u m b e r s of I r i s h R e p u b l i c a n citizens d o e s n o t give rise t o the
s a m e k i n d of p r o b l e m s o r f o r e b o d i n g s as the p r e s e n c e here of similar n u m b e r s of
c o l o u r e d p e o p l e m i g h t b e t h o u g h t t o justify.
6. T h e r e is, h o w e v e r , o n e f u r t h e r p o i n t t h a t arises o u t of t h e f r e e d o m of
m o v e m e n t n o w enjoyed b y Irish R e p u b l i c a n citizens in r e l a t i o n t o t h e possible n e e d
t o i m p o s e c o n t r o l over t h e e n t r y of c o l o u r e d p e o p l e . T h e r e is a possibility t h a t
c o l o u r e d i m m i g r a n t s m i g h t try t o e v a d e t h e c o n t r o l b y travelling first to t h e Irish
R e p u b l i c in t r a n s i t t o this c o u n t r y .
A s r e g a r d s alien i m m i g r a t i o n t h e Irish
R e p u b l i c a n a u t h o r i t i e s c o - o p e r a t e in advising us of aliens arriving in t h e R e p u b l i c
en route for t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m . W h e t h e r t h e y w o u l d b e willing t o t a k e the fresh
p o w e r s t h a t w o u l d u n d o u b t e d l y b e r e q u i r e d to e n a b l e t h e m t o e x t e n d this
c o l l a b o r a t i o n t o cover t h e -cases of i m m i g r a n t s in transit f r o m C o m m o n w e a l t h
c o u n t r i e s , is a m a t t e r of s p e c u l a t i o n . If only a few individual c o l o u r e d i m m i g r a n t s
gained access t o the U n i t e d K i n g d o m in this m a n n e r , t h e existence of this l o o p h o l e
could b e neglected, since t h e p r i m a r y object of t h e Bill w h i c h h a s b e e n d r a f t e d is
t o restrict o r p r e v e n t i m m i g r a t i o n i n the m a s s . If, h o w e v e r , this l o o p h o l e w e r e to
b e used to e v a d e t h e c o n t r o l o n a large scale p r e v e n t i v e a c t i o n w o u l d need t o b e
t a k e n . T h e a r g u m e n t s against i m p o s i n g full c o n t r o l o v e r I r i s h traffic h a v e a l r e a d y
b e e n p o i n t e d o u t in p a r a g r a p h 4 a b o v e , a n d it w o u l d t h e r e f o r e b e necessary t o
c o n s i d e r p u t t i n g o n a t t h e p o r t s of e n t r y f r o m I r e l a n d a n i m m i g r a t i o n c o n t r o l
applied solely t o c o l o u r e d p e o p l e .
7. T h e r e r e m a i n s the q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e s y s t e m of p r e f e r e n c e s , u n d e r w h i c h
o u r t r a d e w i t h t h e Irish R e p u b l i c is still c a r r i e d on, w o u l d b e j e o p a r d i s e d in a n y
w a y s i m p l y b y t h e decision t o i n c l u d e citizens of t h e I r i s h R e p u b l i c in a n y c o n t r o l
w h i c h m i g h t b e i m p o s e d to r e g u l a t e t h e e n t r y i n t o this c o u n t r y of C o m m o n w e a l t h
citizens generally. W e h a v e b e e n r e a d y , if a foreign c o u n t r y w i t h " m o s t - f a v o u r e d ­
n a t i o n " rights claims the benefit of t h e s a m e t r e a t m e n t , t o p l e a d t h e special
g e o g r a p h i c a l , historical a n d e c o n o m i c c o n n e c t i o n s w h i c h w e h a v e w i t h t h e I r i s h
R e p u b l i c ; b u t these a r g u m e n t s a r e of d o u b t f u l validity in i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w a n d
t h e c o n t i n u a n c e of t h e preferential s y s t e m really rests o n t h e fact t h a t it h a s n o t
b e e n seriously challenged. I n b r i n g i n g citizens of t h e Irish R e p u b l i c within t h e
s c o p e of a n y c o n t r o l w h i c h m i g h t b e i m p o s e d o n C o m m o n w e a l t h citizens generally,
w e s h o u l d n o t b e giving greater e m p h a s i s t h a n n o w to t h e alien s t a t u s of t h e I r i s h
R e p u b l i c — i n d e e d , r a t h e r t h e r e v e r s e — a n d it seems u n l i k e l y t h a t s u c h a s t e p w o u l d
in itself e n c o u r a g e foreign c o u n t r i e s t o p u t f o r w a r d c l a i m s for " m o s t - f a v o u r e d ­
n a t i o n " t r e a t m e n t w h i c h m i g h t j e o p a r d i s e the f u t u r e of t h e preferences system in
trade with Ireland.
The Franchise
8. T h e C o m m i t t e e felt t h a t it w a s certainly a n o m a l o u s in principle t h a t
I r i s h m e n w h o o w e allegiance to t h e R e p u b l i c s h o u l d n o n e t h e l e s s enjoy t h e U n i t e d
K i n g d o m franchise.
T h e r i g h t is n o t r e c i p r o c a l , a n d citizens of t h e U n i t e d
K i n g d o m a n d colonies resident in t h e Irish R e p u b l i c a r e n o t entitled t o v o t e t h e r e
unless t h e y a r e also citizens of t h e R e p u b l i c a n d so d e c l a r e themselves.
9. B u t t h e e n j o y m e n t of t h e franchise b y citizens of the R e p u b l i c follows
a u t o m a t i c a l l y f r o m P a r l i a m e n t ^ decision in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e I r e l a n d A c t , 1949,
t h a t s u c h citizens w h o are n o t British subjects s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o h a v e in t h e U n i t e d
K i n g d o m t h e s a m e rights as British subjects. Section 3 (2) of t h e British N a t i o n a l i t y
A c t , 1948,* p r o v i d e d t h a t any l a w in force in a n y p a r t of t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m o n
1st J a n u a r y , 1949, should, until p r o v i s i o n b e m a d e to t h e c o n t r a r y , " c o n t i n u e t o
h a v e effect in r e l a t i o n to citizens of E i r e w h o a r e n o t British subjects, in like m a n n e r
as it h a s effect in r e l a t i o n to British s u b j e c t s . " T h i s p r o v i s i o n w a s explicitly
p r e s e r v e d b y Section 3 (1) of t h e I r e l a n d A c t , 1949.* Section 1 (1) of t h e
R e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e P e o p l e A c t , 1949,* a c o n s o l i d a t i o n m e a s u r e e n a c t e d later t h e
s a m e y e a r , specifically p r o v i d e d t h a t citizens of t h e Irish R e p u b l i c w e r e entitled t o
v o t e , subject o n l y t o the s a m e c o n d i t i o n s as British subjects.
10. M a n y citizens of the Irish R e p u b l i c are also British subjects.
The
h o u s e h o l d e r w h o p r o v i d e s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o n w h i c h t h e electoral r e g i s t r a t i o n
officer m u s t i n p r a c t i c e d e p e n d in compiling t h e register h a s for the p u r p o s e of
c o m p l e t i n g t h e f o r m usually t o rely o n s t a t e m e n t s m a d e to h i m b y t h o s e in his
h o u s e h o l d . B u t m a n y Irish p e o p l e in this c o u n t r y m a y n o t b e sure of their o w n
status. If a p e r s o n , t h o u g h of I r i s h a n c e s t r y , claims to b e a British subject, t h e
h o u s e h o l d e r will n o d o u b t e n t e r h i m o n the f o r m as s u c h . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , if
a m e m b e r of t h e h o u s e h o l d does n o t k n o w w h e t h e r h e is British a n d does n o t c l a i m
to be, t h e h o u s e h o l d e r w o u l d p r o b a b l y n o t e n t e r h i m o n t h e f o r m .
I t is t h e r e f o r e possible t h a t t h e electoral register m i g h t i n c l u d e t h e n a m e s of
s o m e p e r s o n s w h o t h o u g h t h e y t h o u g h t they w e r e British w e r e n o t so in fact, a n d
e x c l u d e t h e n a m e s of s o m e w h o w e r e in fact British, t h o u g h they did n o t t h i n k t h e y
w e r e . I t m a y b e felt t h a t this w o u l d n o t m a t t e r very m u c h : o n the o n e h a n d t h e r e
c a n really b e little objection t o allowing a n I r i s h m a n w h o r e g a r d s himself as a
British subject a n d in allegiance t o t h e C r o w n t o v o t e ; a n d o n the o t h e r h a n d , it is
r e g a r d e d b y s o m e p e o p l e as o b j e c t i o n a b l e t o allow a p e r s o n w h o r e g a r d s himself as
a citizen of t h e Irish R e p u b l i c a n d n o t as a British subject a n d n o t as h a v i n g a n y
allegiance t o t h e C r o w n the right t o v o t e for t h e election of a M e m b e r of P a r l i a m e n t
in a c o u n t r y t o w h i c h he h a s n o loyalty.
B u t t h e e l e c t o r a l register s h o u l d c o n t a i n t h e n a m e s of ali p e r s o n s entitled b y
l a w t o v o t e a n d of t h e m only, a n d f r o m this p o i n t of view a n y t h i n g t h a t is likely t o
d i m i n i s h t h e a c c u r a c y of t h e register is t o b e d e p r e c a t e d . W h i l e w e w o u l d c e r t a i n l y
n o t r e g a r d this as a n a r g u m e n t of first i m p o r t a n c e against t h e d i s f r a n c h i s e m e n t of
Irish citizens if this w e r e t h o u g h t d e s i r a b l e o n wider g r o u n d s of policy, we feel
b o u n d t o m e n t i o n t h a t s u c h disfranchisement w o u l d t e n d to h a v e this result.
* These legal provisions are set out in extenso in Annex B.
4
11. A l t h o u g h t h e p o i n t a b o u t r e c i p r o c i t y w a s p u t . Without satisfaction, d u r i n g
t h e d e b a t e s o n t h e I r e l a n d Bill in 1949, t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e P a r t y t h e n in o p p o s i t i o n
a c c e p t e d the fact t h a t t h e r i g h t s a n d privileges w h i c h Irish R e p u b l i c a n citizens
w o u l d c o n t i n u e t o enjoy h e r e w o u l d i n c l u d e t h e franchise. T h i s decision h a v i n g
b e e n t a k e n , a n d given s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y , it c a n n o t n o w b e modified w i t h o u t
fresh legislation. N o d o u b t t h e o p p o r t u n i t y c o u l d b e t a k e n i n s o m e f u t u r e
R e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e P e o p l e Bill—there is n o n e in p r o s p e c t at p r e s e n t — t o
w i t h d r a w t h e franchise f r o m Irish R e p u b l i c a n s ; b u t , n o w t h a t t h e franchise h a s
b e e n g r a n t e d for s e v e r a l y e a r s , this c o u l d n o t b e d o n e w i t h o u t s o m e e l e m e n t of
c o n t r o v e r s y a n d s o m e i m p a i r m e n t of o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e R e p u b l i c .
12. As r e g a r d s n u m b e r s , statistics a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e t o s h o w h o w m a n y Irish
R e p u b l i c a n citizens a r e e n t i t l e d t o vote in U n i t e d K i n g d o m elections. A t t h e
1951 c e n s u s , a b o u t 235,000 p e r s o n s in G r e a t B r i t a i n w h o w e r e o v e r t w e n t y - o n e
a n d h a d been b o r n o u t s i d e t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m g a v e their n a t i o n a l i t y as Irish,
b u t this is n o t a reliable figure b e c a u s e s o m e of t h e m p r o b a b l y h a d British
n a t i o n a l i t y as well as Irish citizenship, a n d o t h e r s m a y h a v e w r o n g l y d e s c r i b e d
t h e m s e l v e s as British. Since t h e n t h e r e h a s b e e n a s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n t h e
n u m b e r of Irish in G r e a t B r i t a i n . W h a t e v e r t h e t o t a l , n o t all Irish citizens a r e
entitled t o t h e v o t e h e r e , for n o o n e c a n get o n t h e electoral register until h e h a s
r e s i d e d i n this c o u n t r y for a p e r i o d v a r y i n g b e t w e e n four a n d sixteen m o n t h s
d e p e n d i n g o n t h e t i m e of y e a r of his arrival. M a n y Irish citizens c o m e h e r e for
s h o r t visits, a n d t h e electoral register w h i c h is b a s e d o n t h e d a t e 10th O c t o b e r
c a n n o t for i n s t a n c e i n c l u d e s e a s o n a l w o r k e r s w h o c o m e for t h e s u m m e r only.
13. I n view of all these c o n s i d e r a t i o n s t h e C o m m i t t e e felt t h a t while
c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e Irish R e p u b l i c r e m a i n m u c h as t h e y a r e at
p r e s e n t it w o u l d scarcely b e feasible t o t a k e steps t o w i t h d r a w t h e franchise.
Coloured Immigration—Current D e v e l o p m e n t s
14. T h e r e h a v e b e e n n o v e r y r e m a r k a b l e n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s in r e g a r d t o
c o l o u r e d i m m i g r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e c u r r e n t year. A b o u t 23,000 W e s t I n d i a n s a r r i v e d
i n t h e first eight m o n t h s of 1956 c o m p a r e d w i t h 26,000 in t h e w h o l e of 1955.
After m a k i n g s o m e a l l o w a n c e for a seasonal lull as w i n t e r a p p r o a c h e s t h e total
n u m b e r arriving this y e a r is likely t o exceed last y e a r ' s figure, b u t n o t g r e a t l y s o .
I n a n y event, it seems t h a t t h e r a t e of i m m i g r a t i o n of W e s t I n d i a n s h a s steadied
s o m e w h a t a n d is n o t p r o c e e d i n g a l o n g t h e g e o m e t r i c a l p r o g r e s s i o n of r e c e n t y e a r s .
T h e n u m b e r s of c o l o u r e d i m m i g r a n t s f r o m o t h e r p a r t s of t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h
seem likely, to b e slightly less this year.
15. I n t h e t h r e e m o n t h s since t h e C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e C a b i n e t last e x a m i n e d
t h e m a t t e r , n e a r l y 9,000 W e s t I n d i a n s h a v e a r r i v e d h e r e . A s d u r i n g this p e r i o d
t h e n u m b e r of u n e m p l o y e d c o l o u r e d w o r k e r s rose b y only 1,500 it is e v i d e n t t h a t
m o s t of t h e m a r e able t o find e m p l o y m e n t , a n d t h a t s a t u r a t i o n p o i n t in t h e d e m a n d
for c o l o u r e d w o r k e r s h a s n o t y e t b e e n r e a c h e d . T h e total n u m b e r of c o l o u r e d
p e o p l e a t p r e s e n t u n e m p l o y e d is r a t h e r less t h a n 7,000. T h o u g h in p r o p o r t i o n a t e
t e r m s this total is t h r e e o r four times t h e n a t i o n a l a v e r a g e , t h e figure is t h o u g h t
to b e a t t r i b u t a b l e p a r t l y to t h e fact t h a t t h e i m m i g r a n t s t a k e a little time t o settle
in e m p l o y m e n t a n d m o v e initially f r o m j o b t o j o b , a n d p a r t l y t o t h e fact t h a t they
h a v e t e n d e d t o s e t t l e t o a c o n s i d e r a b l e e x t e n t i n M i d l a n d t o w n s affected b y
recession in t h e m o t o r - c a r i n d u s t r y a n d , b e i n g r e l a t i v e n e w c o m e r s , h a v e been
amOng t h e first t o b e c o m e r e d u n d a n t u n d e r t h e " last in—first o u t " principle.
O n l y a b o u t half of t h e u n e m p l o y e d c o l o u r e d w o r k e r s h a v e n e e d e d t o h a v e r e c o u r s e
t o p u b l i c f u n d s , w h e t h e r u n e m p l o y m e n t benefit o r n a t i o n a l assistance.
16. A l t h o u g h t h e tide of i m m i g r a t i o n is still r u n n i n g a t a n u n c o m f o r t a b l y
h i g h r a t e , m a t t e r s h a v e n o t t a k e n a f u r t h e r t u r n for t h e worse this year. A n d t h e r e
is s o m e r e a s o n t o believe t h a t t h e r e p o r t s w h i c h t h e i m m i g r a n t s s e n d h o m e o n
c o n d i t i o n s h e r e , a n d w h i c h h i t h e r t o h a v e s t i m u l a t e d t h e i r families a n d friends t o
m a k e t h e j o u r n e y , a r e n o w s o m e w h a t less glowing t h a n they w e r e at a n earlier
stage. T h e s i t u a t i o n d o e s n o t t h e r e f o r e a p p e a r t o b e d e v e l o p i n g in such a w a y as
to give t h e C o m m i t t e e g r o u n d s for m o d i f y i n g t h e c o n c l u s i o n s o n t h e general
p r o b l e m of c o l o u r e d i m m i g r a t i o n w h i c h t h e y s u b m i t t e d t o t h e C a b i n e t in July.
:
i
i
i
:
v; ^ ; ;-;b ',:! ';;:
(
^ .-';"v.'ffB:-Si W^^flPS
:!
House of Lords, S.W. 1, 12 th November,
1956.
.
k.
(on behalf of t h e C o m m i t t e e )
ANNEX
Extracts
from
Debates
A
on the Ireland
Bill
Second Reading,
11th M a y , 1949! C o l . 1870.
Mr. Eden : " T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r a r g u e d t o - d a y — a n d I c a n n o t d i s p u t e i t - t h a i
t h e special r e l a t i o n s h i p existing b e t w e e n o u r t w o c o u n t r i e s a n d t h e c o n s t a n t c o m i n g
a n d going of citizens b e t w e e n I r e l a n d a n d the U n i t e d K i n g d o m w o u l d m a k e i t
ridiculous for e i t h e r c o u n t r y t o t r e a t the p e o p l e of t h e o t h e r a s aliens,, ;if b y a n y
r e a s o n a b l e m e a n s t h a t c a n be, a v o i d e d . F r o m t h a t view I d o n o t dissent a n d w e
o n these b e n c h e s , i o r this a n d o t h e r s t r o n g e r r e a s o n s , t o w h i c h I shall refer in a
m o m e n t , give o u r b r o a d s u p p o r t t o t h e Bill." '..
..... . . .
C o l . 1871.
Mr. Eden: " I n o n e of its C l a u s e s (the Bill) d e c l a r e s t h a t t h e o p e r a t i o n of t h e
British N a t i o n a l i t y A c t is n o t affected b y the secession, a n d so we a r e invited t o
n o t e t h a t a citizen of t h e R e p u b l i c of I r e l a n d r e m a i n s e n t i t l e d to t h e r i g h t s of a
British subject. T h a t is n o t an insignificant privilege w h i c h w e a r e c o n f e r r i n g
u p o n these m e n a n d w o m e n . It includes t h e r i g h t to v o t e in o u r elections, to b e
a m e m b e r of this H o u s e , to h o l d a p o s i t i o n in the Civil Service a n d t o be s w o r n of
H e r Majesty's P r i v y C o u n c i l — t h e s e a n d m a n y o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a n d r e s p o n s i b l e
rights. A n d w i t h rights g o d u t i e s . In p a r t i c u l a r , while t h e r e is c o n s c r i p t i o n i n
this c o u n t r y t h e r e is t h e d u t y of m i l i t a r y service. : . . .
" I h a v e n o desire t o a r g u e t h e relative, m e r i t s of r e c i p r o c a l benefits as b e t w e e n
this c o u n t r y a n d t h e n e w R e p u b l i c , t h o u g h there m i g h t b e q u i t e a l o t w h i c h c o u l d
b e said o n t h a t t o p i c . N o n e t h e less, at least t h e a p p e a r a n c e of r e c i p r o c i t y s h o u l d
b e t h e r e . I h o p e t h a t the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e C o u n c i l will, w h e n h e replies
t o - n i g h t , b e a b l e t o tell u s a little m o r e a b o u t t h a t t h a n t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r w a s a b l e
t o d o in his o p e n i n g s p e e c h . "
(The L o r d P r e s i d e n t , in replying t o the D e b a t e , did n o t d e a l w i t h this point.)
Col. 1951.
Sir David Maxwell Fyfe: " W e a r e recognising the facts of a s s o c i a t i o n b e t w e e n
t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s . W e are recognising t h a t citizens of t h e R e p u b l i c a r e t o b e
f o u n d as v a l u a b l e m e m b e r s of society in all w a l k s of life, i n c l u d i n g t h e Service of
t h e C r o w n , a n d t h a t it w o u l d b e u n r e a s o n a b l e t o e m b a r k o n t h e u p h e a v a l w h i c h
w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e y all o p t e d t o be British o r registered as aliens,
in t h e latter case losing jobs w h i c h they are d o i n g well. T h i r d l y , in m y view, t o
t u r n i n t o aliens t h e citizens of t h e R e p u b l i c w h o a r e travelling t o a n d fro a n d living
here would be an unreasonable course."
Third Reading, 17th M a y , 1949. C o l . 388.
Sir David
Maxwell
F y f e a t
a t i m e in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r
C o m m o n w e a l t h w h e n t h e r e a r e m a n y difficult p r o b l e m s arising, for this c o u n t r y
t o h a v e said ' W e will n o t t r o u b l e a b o u t the r e p e r c u s s i o n s of these p r o b l e m s ; w e
shall, a l t h o u g h y o u h a v e left u s , t r e a t y o u r citizens as if y o u h a d n o t , ' is s o m e t h i n g
w h i c h will b e r e m e m b e r e d a m o n g s t the g e n e r o u s gestures in the h i s t o r y of t h e
world."
ANNEX
Extracts
from
B
Statutes
British Nationality
Act, 1948—Section
3, Sub-Section
(2)
(2) Subject t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s of this section, a n y l a w in force in a n y p a r t of t h e
U n i t e d K i n g d o m a n d C o l o n i e s or i n a n y p r o t e c t o r a t e or U n i t e d K i n g d o m t r u s t
t e r r i t o r y a t t h e d a t e of the c o m m e n c e m e n t of this A c t , * w h e t h e r b y v i r t u e of a
* i.e., 1st January, 1949.
r u l e of l a w o r of a n A c t of P a r l i a m e n t o r a n y o t h e r e n a c t m e n t o r i n s t r u m e n t
w h a t s o e v e r , a n d a n y l a w w h i c h b y virtue of a n y A c t of P a r l i a m e n t p a s s e d before
t h a t d a t e c o m e s i n t o force in a n y s u c h p l a c e as aforesaid o n o r after t h a t d a t e , shall,
u n t i l p r o v i s i o n to the c o n t r a r y is m a d e b y t h e a u t h o r i t y h a v i n g p o w e r to alter t h a t
l a w , c o n t i n u e t o h a v e effect i n r e l a t i o n t o citizens of E i r e w h o a r e n o t British s u b j e c t s
in like m a n n e r as it h a s effect i n r e l a t i o n t o British subjects.
Ireland Act, 1949—Section
3, Sub-Section
(1) I t is h e r e b y d e c l a r e d that-V'
(/)
(a) t h e o p e r a t i o n of t h e following s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s , t h a t is t o s a y —
(i) t h e British N a t i o n a l i t y A c t , 1948 ( a n d in p a r t i c u l a r , a n d w i t h o u t
p r e j u d i c e t o t h e generality of t h e p r e c e d i n g w o r d s , sections t w o ,
t h r e e a n d six t h e r e o f ) ;
(ii)
(iii)
is n o t affected b y t h e fact t h a t t h e R e p u b l i c of I r e l a n d is n o t p a r t of H i s M a j e s t y ' s
dominions; and
,,
Representation
of the People Act, 1949—Section
1, Sub-Section
(1)
(1) Subject t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s of S u b - S e c t i o n (2) of this section, t h e p e r s o n s
entitled t o v o t e as electors at a p a r l i a m e n t a r y e l e c t i o n in a n y c o n s t i t u e n c y shall b e
t h o s e r e s i d e n t t h e r e o n t h e qualifying d a t e w h o , o n t h a t d a t e a n d o n t h e d a t e of t h e
poll, a r e of full age a n d n o t subject to a n y legal i n c a p a c i t y to v o t e a n d e i t h e r British
s u b j e c t s o r citizens of t h e R e p u b l i c of I r e l a n d :
P r o v i d e d t h a t a p e r s o n shall n o t b e e n t i t l e d t o v o t e as a n elector in a n y
c o n s t i t u e n c y unless registered t h e r e in t h e register of p a r l i a m e n t a r y electors t o b e
u s e d at t h e election n o r , at a g e n e r a l election, to v o t e as a n elector in m o r e t h a n
one constituency.