HC Deb 28 November 1916 vol 88 c145
26. Major HUNT

asked whether German spies captured at the Front and prisoners in this country who grossly misconduct themselves are tried by courts-martial; and, if so, are the sentences of courts-martial subject to revision by the Judge Advocate-General; and is there a branch of the War Office which investigates alien connections and sympathies; and, if so, was this branch consulted before the recent appointment of Judge Advocate-General was made?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The hon. and gallant Member must by now, I think, regret that he ever put this question on the Paper. It is a question which cannot in any sense make for the public interest or contribute anything towards the proper prosecution of the War—an object which he presumably has at heart. Indeed, it serves no useful purpose whatever that I have been able to discover.

Mr. ASHLEY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Gentleman was for many months in the trenches?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

Yes; he volunteered although he was above military age. He was in a position of great danger for months. He did not voluntarily come back, but was sent for to do this work. He did it voluntarily for months, and he was engaged in that task at the request of Lord Kitchener. When I came to the War Office, seeing that he had been doing this work for the whole of this time, I thought, when there was this vacancy, it was the proper thing to do.