§ 40. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Dr. Haldane on May 3rd asked the War Office to issue a permit to enable his assistant, Mr. Winmill, to travel to France with him for the purpose of investigating the use of poisonous gases used by the Germans; and whether Mr. Winmill was kept waiting three days in London for the necessary passports to enable him to reach General Headquarters, notwithstanding that Mr. Winmill made repeated applications personally, by telegram and by telephone to the War Office for his passports?
§ Mr. TENNANTThere is no knowledge at the War Office of the repeated applications personally, by telegram and by telephone, for passports on the part of Mr. Winmill. Special military passes for Dr. Haldane and Professor Baker were asked for and were granted on April 26th, and if Dr. Haldane had asked for a similar arrangement to be made for Mr. Winmill it could no doubt have been approved. No complaint in the sense of my hon. Friend's question has been received from Dr. Haldane or Mr. Winmill. If my hon. Friend refers to passports only, his question is one for the Foreign Office.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Dr. Haldane made a representation to himself at the War Office on 3rd May, and that Mr. Winmill, with all the mechanical apparatus, could not go over until Dr. Haldane sent another telegram and until representations were sent from the General Headquarters in France?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo complaint has been received from either Dr. Haldane or Mr. Winmill. That being so, I am afraid my hon. Friend's information is not quite accurate.
§ 41 Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether, seeing that Dr. Haldane was requested by the Government to report on the poisonous gases used by the Germans, he is aware that Dr. Haldane at once instructed Mr. S. F. Winmill, B.A., B.Sc, chief chemist of the Doncaster Coal Owners' Scientific Research Committee, to make tests of the best forms of respirators for the use of the troops, and that Dr. Haldane stated that the form of respirator proposed to be issued by 499 the War Office was of no value whatever; whether, notwithstanding this, Lord Kitchener made an appeal to the women of the country to make these respirators; whether many men at Hill 60 lost their lives at Hill 60 when using this respirator; whether the Director-General of Medical Services was consulted and approved this pattern of respirator; (2) whether, seeing that Mr. Winmill has presented a report to the Doncaster Coal Owners' Scientific Research Committee that men can, if they take certain precautions, evade poison gases without even using respirators, he will say whether Dr. Haldane and Mr. Winmill have been asked by the War Office to make any report on the question; whether, if no such report has been asked for, he will at once ask Dr. Haldane to make a brief report stating the precautions which will prevent loss of life even though no respirator is used or available; will he see that this report is at once sent to General Sir John French; and (3) whether Dr. Haldane is recognised in all countries as one of the greatest living physiologists, his books being the recognised standard authority; whether Dr. Haldane has for years past given his services to the Home Office to assist in obtaining a reliable breathing apparatus for use in mines; whether Dr. Haldane has made innumerable tests of all types of breathing apparatus; and whether the War Office have now consulted a gentleman who appears on music-hall stages as to the best type of respirators for the use of the troops?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe eminence of Dr. Haldane as an authority is, of course, well known, and he has advised the War Office on the matter in question, and continues to advise. The type of respirator used at the outset was that approved by the Admiralty, and it was adopted with the approval of the Director-General of the Army Medical Services until a more suitable type could be devised for the special circumstances. I have on previous occasions explained the circumstances in which an appeal was made to the public. I have no knowledge of the report made by Mr. Winmill, but I may inform my hon. Friend, as he is not already aware of the fact, that Dr. Haldane has already indicated certain protective measures that may be taken by troops, if they happen to be without one of the authorised respirators, and the necessary instructions have been given by 500 the military authorities in France. The means of protection now in use are reported on most favourably by the authorities in France. Recourse has been had, in studying these problems, to all the best brains in the country, but I am not aware that any music-hall artist has been consulted, as stated in Question 43.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the circular issued from General Headquarters, dated 4th June, no mention whatever is made of these other precautions which Dr. Haldane thought it desirable should be taken?
§ Mr. TENNANTI was not aware of that. Possibly the device suggested by Dr. Haldane was settled after that date, but I am not quite certain of that.