§ 112. Mr. G. FABERasked whether an application has recently been made to the City Tribunal for the exemption from military service of four employés of the Dresdner Bank; if so, who authorised the application; whether Sir William Plender, the controller, was made aware of the application before it was made; whether he sanctioned it; and why there was any necessity to ask for the exemption of these clerks if the premises of the said bank are to be sold shortly, as promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am informed that with the controller's knowledge an application for the further temporary exemption of the four employés named was made to the City Tribunal in order that the work still outstanding may be completed without delay, and that exemption has been granted until the 8th March next.
§ Mr. FABERConsidering that British banks are practically stripped, and rightly stripped, of all men of military age who are fit for service, why should a German bank be granted this kind of indulgence?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMy hon. Friend knows that that was a decision of the tribunal and not of the Government, and as I have pointed out the exemption is only until 8th March.
§ Mr. FABERIn view of the tenderness shown to the German banks in the past, will some really strenuous and manly policy now be adopted?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI can only say that there will be no undue tenderness. If there has been tenderness in the past towards German banks, I am not aware of it.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill the right hon. Gentleman take no action unless he gets a letter from Cord Northcliffe?