§ 3. Sir R. COOPERasked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs if a special permit was issued by him on or about 14th December, 1914, for a Mr. Hochstetter to leave this country for Guatemala to assist in the management of the business in that country of Messrs. Rosing, Brothers, of Basinghall Street, E.C.; is Mr. Hochstetter an enemy alien; has he held a commission in the German Army; if so, will he say why he was not interned at the beginning of the War; and why this special licence was issued?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. There existed at that time no sufficient grounds, in view of the general policy then adopted, for interning this man or for refusing him a permit to leave the country for South America; but in the early part of 1915 the practice became much stricter; and a similar permit would not now be granted.