§ 43. Mr. G. FABERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many official supervisors have been appointed by the controller for the Deutsche Bank, the Dresdner Bank, and the Disconto-Gessellschaft, respectively, and at what salaries, and whether he can state their names; whether any German or Austrian employé has had the sole or joint charge of any of the books or papers of any of said banks since the appointment of the official supervisors; whether the supervisors have kept the keys of the strong rooms containing the said books and papers, or what persons have; whether, in view of the fact that after the outbreak of war 118 enemy German and Austrian aliens were suffered to remain in the employment of the said banks, any special precautions, and, if so, what, were ever taken by the controller or the supervisors to prevent these persons, or any of them, making extracts from the said books or papers; and whether any German or Austrian employé has (been allowed to pass the night on the premises of the said banks since the City Police took possession on the 7th August, 1914?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. McKenna)The answer to the first three pares of the question is as follows: The following official supervisors have been appointed: At the Deutsche Bank, Mr. Ernest Cooper, senior partner in Messrs. Cooper Brothers and Company; at the Dresdner Bank, Mr. Lionel Maltby, partner in Messrs. Deloitte, Plender and Company; at the Disconto-Gesellschaft, Mr. William Cash, senior partner in Messrs. Cash, Stone and Company. The official supervisors are paid out of the funds of the respective banks at the rate of five guineas per day of seven hours for the official supervisors; two guineas for their senior assistants; one guinea per day for other assistants. In answer to the fourth, fifth, and sixth parts of the question, the books and papers of the banks are, of course, in use by the bank's officers during the day, subject to the control and supervision of the official supervisors. The steps taken For their security after working hours vary at the different banks, but in each case the books are placed in strong rooms or fireproof compartments, the keys of which are in the hands of messengers of British birth, or, where access can be gained only by unlocking two separate locks, the key of one 1405 is held by the official supervisor and that of the other by the management. The strong rooms of each bank can only be opened by the use of two different keys, one of which is held by the supervisor and one by the management. No one is allowed access to them after working hours. In answer to the last part of the question, no German or Austrian employé has been allowed to pass the night on any of the premises since the outbreak of the War.
§ 45. Mr. FABERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he declined to allow his part in the correspondence between himself, Lord Northcliffe, and Sir William Plender in regard to the position of German banks in London to be published?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. I do not understand that any question was ever raised of the publication of a letter from me to Lord Northcliffe.
§ Mr. FABERWas the right hon. Gentleman's permission asked before Sir William Plender published his letter?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; Sir William Plender's letter was not written to me, but to Lord Northcliffe. I think the hon. Member is really under a misapprehension on the subject, and, if he will allow me, I shall be very happy to show him the whole correspondence.
§ Mr. FABERDid not Lord Northcliffe, in fact, ask the right hon. Gentleman to permit the publication of his letter to Lord Northcliffe?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; what happened was this: In reply to a letter from me, Lord Northcliffe wrote to me. My letter to him was a personal letter. Lord Northcliffe wrote to me, and in the course of his letter he stated what he proposed to do with regard to Sir William Plender. As I thought that would lead to misapprehension, and it might be supposed that I had complained of Sir William Plender, inasmuch as he was to be removed from his employment by Lord Northcliffe, I said whatever he published with regard to Sir William Plender I should prefer that he would publish it not in the form of a letter to me. I shall be very happy to show my hon. Friend the whole of the correspondence. As it originated in a personal letter, I do not think it is a matter which should be published.