NATURALISATION OF ALIENS
SIR,-It is to be observed from Home Office announcements in the daily Press that large numbers of persons are likely to be naturalised in the near future, mostly emanating from Central Europe. May I suggest that it should be made illegal for these persons to change their names after naturalisation? Among the rights which naturalised citizens are found to exercise with frequency and freedom is that of criticising the institutions of their adopted country. And why not? At the same time, it is, I think, reasonable that their fellow-citizens should know from what back- ground these criticisms come, particularly when they originate in high places. Mr. Shinwell, for instance, has latterly been loud in his denuncia- tions of the House of Lords, and is as entitled to his views on that assemblage as anybody else. The House of Lords may have its failings, but it is a traditional British institution, and, to those who share in that tradition, a familiar and effective element in the government of the country ; but those of comparatively recent Central European origin are not likely to appreciate it. Now it is not so long since the name of the Shinwell family was something quite unlike Shinwell. There should be no hardship in such a provision, since the change of name can only be due to a not: very commendable desire on the part of the naturalised person to conceal his origin. These metamorphoses are, of course, very prevalent in Central Europe, particularly among exalted personages: As we all know, Mr. Stalin's name is not Stalin, nix' is Mr. Molotov a Molotov. And Marshal Tito is neither a Marshal .nor a Tito. A deplorable practice ; let us not acclimatise it here. Disraeli; by the way, never found it desirable to change his name until it was changed for him by the Queen of England. Indeed, he was proud of it. And he was very courteous to British institutions. But then he rather liked us ; Mr. Shinwell, it is to be feared, does not.—I am,
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