DLA163-0012  Transcription

re Laszlo

The question to be dealt with by the Committee will be, whether it is desirable that the certificate of naturalization granted to Mr. de Laszlo revoked on the ground that the continuance of it is not conducive to the public good, and the decision will depend upon the view taken by the Committee of all the circumstances of the case.

The Committee as constituted could not well be improved upon, and the case will be fairly dealt with by them, and without prejudice.

On reading the papers now before me, the first idea that occurs to me is that Mr. Laszlo’s statement should be dissected and the different matters contained in it dealt with quite distinctly.

In the first place everything that relates to his history in one section.

The history of how he came to be naturalized should be accurately worked out.

Then the charges made against him should be dealt with separately.

The question of the support of his Mother^[1] and the pecuniary assistance given to other members of his family should be worked out, all the facts with regard to the letter of the 27th July 1914 must be put together.

This is a difficult matter to deal with, having

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regard to the terms of the letter, and the bearing it may have on the real rest of the case.

Another matter to be dealt with under a separate heading is the sending of, and receiving letters through the bag of the Dutch legation.

The Horne [sic] incident must also be dealt with quite distinctly, and it is a matter which requires grave consideration.^[2]

The visit to the internment camp and the assistance given to Hungarians in distress or in internment camps will come under a separate heading.

Before this Committee presided over by Mr. Justice Atkin, the case will have to be dealt with in a purely practical way, as the Committee will not be influenced by either oratory or sentiment.

I agree that it is important that we should have if possible a copy of the accountant’s report, and in order to understand the case against Mr. Laszlo we should make every effort to obtain copies of all the documents in the possession of the Home Office.

The question of possibly obtaining the original letters written to his brother^[3] we had better consider in consultation.

I understand Mr. Laszlo’s case upon the intercepted letters, is that they are fictitious and refer as far as he is

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concerned to matters that never took place and must have been written to discredit him.

It He may well be that upon examination, if it is allowed, we might point to internal evidence in the letters which would go to establish this.

Mr. Laszlo’s case under section 7 will be that he has never shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected or disloyal to His Majesty, and that he has not during the War unlawfully communicated with the enemy or with the subject of an enemy state, and that there is [handwritten insertion: no] danger in the continuance of his certificate.

There are several matters in the statement in connection with which enquiries should be made. This can be dealt with in going through the statement.

The charges are as formulated in the document given to Mr. Laszlo on the 21st Sept. 1917 and copy of which is at the bottom of page 12 were I am sure very carefully prepared and disclose the full strength of the case against Mr. Laszlo at that date.

In any view of this case, and whatever the result may be it is of vital importance that Mr. Laszlo’s answer should be as complete as possible and the real work upon it should be completed before it reaches the Committee.

The Memorandum of the 20th., Sept. 1918 indicates that the Committee may require an answer filed and information

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given to the Committee.

It is for this reason that it is so important that the different matters of complaint should be at once as fully dealt with as possible so that we may be prepared to avail ourselves of the opportunity to get as complete an answer on the record as possible.

Charles F. Gill

30 September 1918

1 Brick Court        

Temple Etc.

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re Laszlo.

Opinion:-         30 Sept. 1918.

Chas. Russell & Co.

37 Norfolk St.

Strand

StdeL

03/05/2023