§ 21. Mr. COWANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a large number of the British General Staff have been billeted in London hotels where the employés are to a large extent Germane or Austrians; if so, whether the War Office has had its attention called to any cases of the conversation of such officers being improperly overheard or of their correspondence being secretly opened; and whether any steps can be taken to avert these dangers?
§ Mr. TENNANTA few staff officers have been billeted at London hotels. No cases of conversation being improperly overheard or of correspondence being tampered with by German or Austrian waiters have been reported to the War Office, and, if any waiters of those nationalities are still in the employment of the hotels in question, the hon. Member may rest assured that the officers billeted are on their guard against the dangers to which he calls attention.
§ Mr. COWANWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain from the proprietors of the different hotels in London what the nationality of their staff may be, and whether they are employed by any alien enemy?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am afraid the War Office have quite enough to do already.