Now! Then! The Tory MP for York joins in the persecution of the professor of German at Leeds University, A.W. Schüddekopf, who is sacked and dies of a stroke

Excerpt

Mr. BUTCHER asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Professor A. W. Schüddekopf, of Leeds University, a German believed to be naturalised, whose son formerly held a commission as second-lieutenant in the 7th Service Battalion Leeds Rifles; whether, when the battalion volunteered for service abroad, Professor Schüddekopf informed the commanding officer that he (the professor) was a German and his wife a German, and that he refused to allow his son to fight against Germans; whether Second-Lieutenant Schüddekopf acquiesced in his father’s views and intimated his unwillingness to serve abroad, and has since resigned his commission; whether the professor above referred to is the same Professor Schüddekopf who in May last published a letter in the “Times” and other papers publicly expressing his unswerving loyalty to the country of his adoption, and stating that he felt bound to it not only by gratitude, family ties, and his solemn oath of allegiance, but also by a deep sympathy born of common work and intimate knowledge of the nation’s life and character; whether Professor Schüddekopf still owes allegiance to the German Emperor; and whether, having regard to the hostile origin and associations and the action of Professor Schüddekopf and his son, he will order them to be interned?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon): I have made inquiry and find that the facts with regard to Second-Lieutenant Schüddekopf’s resignation of his commission appear to be substantially as stated in the question. His father, Professor Schüddekopf, who was one of the signatories of the letter in the “Times,” of 14th May, was willing that his son should serve for Home defence, but did not wish him to volunteer to fight the Germans abroad. I am informed that the professor owes no allegiance to the German Emperor. As regards the last part of the hon. and learned Gentleman’s question, the matter shall receive consideration.

Mr. BUTCHER: Is it competent for an officer holding His Majesty’s commission to select which of the King’s enemies he shall fight against?

Sir J. SIMON: I think the hon. and learned Gentleman is under a misapprehension. This man belonged to a Territorial regiment, and only those Territorial officers who volunteer for service abroad are liable to serve abroad.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.
Abbreviations:

ER: East Riding
GM: Greater Manchester
NR: North Riding
NY: North Yorkshire
SY: South Yorkshire
WR: West Riding
WY: West Yorkshire

Comment

I suspect from Frank Finlay (Finlay 2015/03/19) that something closer to the bone can be found, perhaps in correspondence between the university and the city council, which had threatened to stop the municipal grant to the university if the latter was not prepared to deprive an apparently innocent naturalized German of his livelihood.

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Original

Mr. BUTCHER asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Professor A. W. Schuddekopf, of Leeds University, a German believed to be naturalised, whose son formerly held a commission as second-lieutenant in the 7th Service Battalion Leeds Rifles; whether, when the battalion volunteered for service abroad, Professor Schuddekopf informed the commanding officer that he (the professor) was a German and his wife a German, and that he refused to allow his son to fight against Germans; whether Second-Lieutenant Schuddekopf acquiesced in his father’s views and intimated his unwillingness to serve abroad, and has since resigned his commission; whether the professor above referred to is the same Professor Schuddekopf who in May last published a letter in the “Times” and other papers publicly expressing his unswerving loyalty to the country of his adoption, and stating that he felt bound to it not only by gratitude, family ties, and his solemn oath of allegiance, but also by a deep sympathy born of common work and intimate knowledge of the nation’s life and character; whether Professor Schuddekopf still owes allegiance to the German Emperor; and whether, having regard to the hostile origin and associations and the action of Professor Schuddekopf and his son, he will order them to be interned?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon): I have made inquiry and find that the facts with regard to Second-Lieutenant Schuddekopf’s resignation of his commission appear to be substantially as stated in the question. His father, Professor Schuddekopf, who was one of the signatories of the letter in the “Times,” of 14th May, was willing that his son should serve for Home defence, but did not wish him to volunteer to fight the Germans abroad. I am informed that the professor owes no allegiance to the German Emperor. As regards the last part of the hon. and learned Gentleman’s question, the matter shall receive consideration.

Mr. BUTCHER: Is it competent for an officer holding His Majesty’s commission to select which of the King’s enemies he shall fight against?

Sir J. SIMON: I think the hon. and learned Gentleman is under a misapprehension. This man belonged to a Territorial regiment, and only those Territorial officers who volunteer for service abroad are liable to serve abroad.

395 words.

Now! Then! 2024! - Yorkshire On This Day

6 July 1915: The Tory MP for York joins in the persecution of the professor of German at Leeds University, A.W. Schüddekopf, who is sacked and dies of a stroke

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