HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2025
Edmund Sebag Montefiore was at this time Secretary to the Destitute Aliens Committee
I arrived in Douglas on April 28th and left again on May 4th. The objects of my visit were
(I) To inspect on behalf of the Destitute Aliens Conmittee the Camps in the Isle of Man and to report thereon.
(II) To discuss with Mr Sargeaunt several matters connected with the administration and finance of the Camps and specially to exchange views both with him and with Cols. Panzera and Madoc on the question of labour in the Camps with a view of ascertaining whether the same could be utilized for the benefit of this country without infringing the agreements under the Hague Convention.
(III) To discuss with the representatives of the American Embassy, who were visiting the Camps, any matters which might come to their notice during the inspection they were conducting on behalf of the German and Austrian Governments.
I made a most thorough inspection of both Camps, visiting the sleeping huts, hospitals, recreation huts and all other details.
As regards the Douglas Camp, the buildings being permanent, there is little to report; since my last visit the hospital has been much improved and condition can only be described as most satisfactory. 2745 aliens are interned in this Camp, of these 452 are quartered in the so called "Privilege Camp" and 2293 in the ordinary Camp. I received no complaints of any consequence either as to the food or the accommodation. The Camp has frequently been visited by representatives of the American Embassy and favourably reported on; it will therefore not be necessary for me to give any detailed description, The only possible exception which might be taken to the conditions in the Camp is the fact that its area is somewhat restricted, and, though an excellent large recreation field has been rented, both the Commandant and aliens would gladly see more ground taken in. I was given to understand by Mr Sargeaunt that negotiations were in progress for acquiring another recreation field, these, if satisfactorily concluded will be much appreciated by all concerned.
The Commandant and Medical Officer much desire that parties of aliens under escort should be permitted to go for marches in the surrounding country during the he morning when few of the inhabitants are about. The Insular Government are, however, not disposed to agree to this owing to the proposal meeting with strong local opposition. I cannot but regard this as unfortuneate, as though an additional recreation field will to a considerable extent improve matters, there can be but little doubt that the men's moral condition and nervous temperaments are much affected by this long confinement behind barbed wire enclosures.
The feature of the Douglas Camp continues to the fact that nearly all the men there interned can, and do find some form of occupation, some of which it is true is of no great value, but which nevertheless does enable the men to find relaxation and prevent them from brooding over their misfortunes and hatching schemes which are subversive to discipline and the common welfare. The industrial department in this Camp now makes up nearly all the clothes, underwear, clogs &c which are issued to the destitute aliens in the Camp and also supplies Knockaloe with a large number of made up garments.
The Privilege Camp appears to be much appreciated by the aliens who pay anything from 10/6 to 30/- a head per week for the special accommodation and food with which they are provided. At the same time the authorities have found that this Camp is far more difficult to manage than the general one, and it may be found necessary to curtail some of the privileges should the men there interned give further trouble, It is, however, interesting to note that orders are placed by the aliens amongst the tradespeople in Douglas from this Camp to the extent of £400 per week.
I spent three days at Knockaloe, where 20,635 are interned and stayed there one night as guest of the Commandant.
It was extremely gratifying to learn from the Representatives of the Embassy that they have found conditions very materially improved since their last visit. Their report on their inspection will no doubt in due course be received in the Home Office and will I anticipate confirm this.
It is difficult to describe the entire change which has come over the Camp since the appointment of Colonel Panzera as Commandant. The Authorities have much to be grateful for in having been able to secure his services and to have the advantage of his great administrative ability. Immediately on entering the Camp one is struck with the change in tone, not only amongst officers, military and Camp Staff, but also also amongst the interned aliens; the general appearance of discontent, which existed towards the end of 1915, has almost entirely disappeared. It is beyond the scope of this report to give in detail all the improvements which have been effected, suffice be it to say that the officer commanding the troops works in perfect accord with the Camp Commandant, with the result that it has been found possible, without reducing the efficiency of the Guard, to materially reduce the number of sentries on duty in spite of the fact that the area of the Camp has been materially increased.
The so called "Blue Staff", i.e. civilians employed in the administration, has been centralised, and rendered efficient, and finally there is amongst the aliens an atmosphere of discipline and willingness to submit with good grace to conditions in which they find themselves placed, which did not exist in the past. They know, as I heard it remarked, that though the Commandant cannot alter their fate, he gives a sympathetic and just consideration to all reasonable complaints, and is prepared to do all in his power to fall in with their suggestions for the improvement of the internal administration of the Compounds. They much appreciate that they can lay their complaints before him at regular intervals through their own elected "Captains" and that every consideration is given to them.
Repairs to the buildings are now conducted on a systematic basis and the onus of bringing defects to the notice of the Camp authorities rests with the interned aliens. Many structural faults have been remedied, but much more remains to be done. It is proposed to put porches on the weather side of the huts so as to give protection against severe wind and rain storms in the winter; to enlarge washing rooms, still further to improve the drying-rooms, improve the latrines so as to prevent the storm rain from beating in, improve the hospitals and give them extra latrine accommodation, and many other such like improvements, but it must be borne in mind that this all takes time. The Construction Officer, Captain Cowle, appointed by the Insular Government, works in perfect, harmony with the Commandant and readily falls in with any suggestions he thinks fit to take.
With regard to the present drainage system from careful enquiries I am satisfied that unless the same were altered there would be a considerable danger to the health of the Camp. It is agreed on all sides that with the exception of the highly skilled and technical portion of the work, the new extensives can be almost entirely constructed by alien labour.
The water supply is still not entirely satisfactory. To meet an occasional shortage in the busy hours in the morning, an additional pipe is to be laid to the Ballamore reservoir, the overflow of which now escapes into the River Neb, this the authorities anticipate will satisfactorily deal with the case. It is to be hoped that the pipes required for this purpose will shortly arrive from the Mainland.
There is now an abundance of clothing and stores in the Quarter Master's Stores at Knockaloe and there is no possibility of any shortage of these articles in the future.
The Canteen arrangements appear on the whole to give satisfaction; the aliens complain of the reduced supplies of sugar, but this is unavoidable.
The aliens as a whole appear perfectly satisfied with the messing arrangements, which are entirely managed by their own Committees. The considerable number of Hotel Managers, cooks &c renders this easy.
I fully discussed with the Government, Secretary and the two Commandants the position of the subjects of the Austro~Hungarian Empire vis a vis those of the German Empire and am satisfied that it would not be practicable to form separate Camps in the Isle of Man.
In both Camps subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ask to be separated from the Germans, There is constant friction between the two nations, and this is subversive to discipline in the Camp.
Mr Buckler, who is in charge of Austro-Hungarian matters in the American Embassy, informed me that he received applications from the interned asking him to endeavour to persuade the Authorities to establish a separate Austro-Hungarian Camp. I am convinced that on many grounds the matter should receive more than careful consideration. There can be little doubt that at the termination of the war the old dislike of the two Empires will once again show itself, and if this country shows even nominal better treatment to Austrians than it does at present, it is bound to bear good results.
Apart from this, it is admitted that British subjects in Austro-Hungary have been very well treated and that internment has not been general, and it seems to me that some recognition of this might be made. The formation of a separate Camp would present little difficulty. I would suggest to make a start that subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Isle of Man be transferred to some other camp which would be under Home Office control on lines to be arranged hereafter. The Authorities in the Isle of Man who have much experience, strongly urge the adoption of this proposal.
Another point the Insular Authorities and the Commandants asked me to urge is the transfer of men with British-born wives to the Alexandra Palace, and other Camps, where they would be in closer touch with their families. It must be borne in mind that there are very many of the interned, have been in this country 20, 30 or 40 years, and have sons in the British Army and this separation from their families is a very great hardship. It should be quite simple to transfer an equivalent number of unmarried Germans to the Isle of Man in the place of men in this category who desire removal to other camps. Further it must be borne in mind that a young man is hardly likely to make a good soldier if he is labouring under the grievance that his father is interned in a remote portion of the British Isles. It appears to me that it might be a matter for consideration whether men who have sons in the Army, and provided they have borne a good character in the Camp, should not be released if able to support themselves.
Finally there is the question of work in the Camps. Douglas has been described by the Americans as a "hive of industry", which it certainly is, more would, however, be done. There are a very large number of tailors who are unemployed at their own special work and are engaged in other less useful occupations. Colonel Madoc informed me that could he get the machines and material he could supply postmen's and Police uniforms in large quantities. There are very many amongst the interned who would not even object to making soldiers' uniforms, but I think this would not be advisable as it might lead to disturbances in the Camp unless the men were removed to different establishments. I think that in the two Camps there must be over 500 tailors still not employed, who are only too willing to work if given encouragement.
I enquired of some of the sailors and ships' officers whether they would make ships' fenders, and they all expressed willingness if provided with materials: There are many men who could make baskets.
A separate report of men who have volunteered as timber cutters has been sent to the War Office, in all I think about 2000 names.
There are many who have been engaged in agricultural,work, the Commandants can supply particulars if required and furnish reports as to character in the Camp etc.
With reference to their present employment the Camps are rapidly becoming self supporting as regards clothing, with the exception of boots, which it has been found can, owing to machinery, be obtained in England cheaper than they can be made by hand in the Camps.
Gangs of men under escort leave the Camp and are engaged in repairing the roads in the district. They also work at the Foxdale mines and some are hired out to farmers on the Island &c. There is not a great demand from the last mentioned owing to the expense of the same: 1/- a day for each alien and free food and cost of guard.
The Authorities are constantly endeavouring to devise fresh schemes for finding work for the interned, and it is hoped that in time nearly every one who desires it will find some suitable occupation or employment. I feel convinced thet many articles, not directly connected with armaments, could be made in the Camps. At Douglas some of the aliens are making brooms, which supply both Camps, and given material and demand could supply large quantities.
Amongst the interned are a considerable number of undesirable men, who are suffering from venereal diseases of a more or less malignant type, well known socialistic agitators, bad characters with the worst possible police records.
In nearly every case their individual military value to the State must be quite nominal, their cost of maintenance for the British Government quite considerable, and it might be considered by the Authorities whether their deportation, even during the war, might not be of the greatest advantage to this country and to the detriment of the enemy.
Apart from this I should like to draw attention to the fact that there are still 156 boys under 18 at Knockaloe, who are waiting repatriation, there are several under 17 and one informed me he was 15½.
The Insular Government and the Commandants are much exercised as to eventual steps which will have to be taken at the termination of the war for the release and transfer from the Isle of Man of some 24,000 civilian aliens at present interned there. The maintenance of discipline will be extremely difficult, it seems inevitable that there will be a great shortage of tonnage and under every conceivable circumstances it would take a very considerable time to get rid of the aliens in the Isle of Man. It would be impossible for obvious reasons to release men broadcast in the Island after many months of internment and all ask that some indication may be received as to what policy is likely to be adapted.
At Douglas the Commandant has a register of all aliens interned there together with their past record and particulars as to their residence in England, nationality of their wives and other useful information, the same could no doubt be compiled at Knockaloe. It must, however, be remembered that it would take a considerable time as it has been found that particulars furnished by the aliens are not always reliable.
It would not be fair to conclude this report without drawing attention to the great assistance which is given by the Government Office to the suggestions of the Commandants. I carefully discussed the maintenance cost with Mr Sargeaunt and am satisfied that it would be impossible to effect any material economy in the running the Camps. The cost of maintenamce works out at about 8s 4d a head, which includes all administrative charges: clothing of aliens and maintaining the equipment The Committee I think may be satisfied that Mr Sargeaunt keeps a most vigilant eye on the expenditure and endevours to effect every possible economy.
Edmund Sebag Montefiore
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